Biofabrication, Biomedical Devices, Nanomedicine, and Tissue Engineering – Advanced Materials in Healthcare
Authors: Irem Bayindir‐Buchhalter, Uta Göbel, Lorna Stimson
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2018)

We are very proud to present you with the first issue of Advanced Healthcare Materials in 2018, which for the first time is composed entirely of invited Reviews and Progress Reports. This issue covers a whole range of advanced materials and healthcare applications in high-impact topics from biofabrication, biomedical devices and biohybrids, to nanomedicine and tissue engineering. About fifteen years ago, the term “bioprinting” was coined to describe one of the most promising solutions for the creation of new tissues and organs. The first article by Xiaofeng Cui and Arndt Schilling et al. asks the question, “Organ Bioprinting: Are We There Yet?” and bring together the most read and cited topics within biofabrication (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201701018). The next highly attractive topic addressed in this issue is that of wearable sensors for healthcare, which is reviewed by Yong Zhu et al., focusing on nanomaterial-enabled sensors for use in personal health monitoring, tracking of physical activity and multifunctional electronic skins (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700889). Mehdi Jorfi and Daniel Irimia and their team cover the progress made with regards to microphysiological analysis platforms, also known as organs on chip, for brain development and disease (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700723). The structure of (bio)materials, for various healthcare applications is reviewed by two further articles in this issue. Editorial Board member Klaus Jandt and co-authors look at the properties of nanostructured polymeric surfaces which affects protein adsorption (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700995). Patricia Dankers et al. specifically look at blood compatibility of materials to be used for vascular constructs and heart valves, with a particular focus on supramolecular material systems (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700505). Nanomedicine, which is one of the drivers of (bio)material research at present, is also highlighted by a number of articles in this issue. In particular Hélder Santos et al. summarize the recent progress in cancer nanomedicine with an emphasis on the need for an interdisciplinary approach for the translation of extensive research efforts to the clinic (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700432). The review from our Editorial Advisory Board member, Frank Caruso, and his team focuses on the parameters important for nanoparticle targeting in biological environments as well as ways to evaluate and improve how nanoparticles reach their target in the body (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700575). Another board member, Doo Sung Lee, and co-authors review the literature on polymeric nanosystems for drug and gene co-delivery, stressing the recent developments in their preparation as well as applications as cancer therapeutics (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700886). Fergal O'Brien et al. describe the advances in miRNA-based therapies and miRNA delivery systems to manipulate gene expression for applications not only in cancer, but also in regenerative medicine (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700695). The team of Kristofer J. Thurecht presents an overview of various strategies for the conjugation of antibodies with nanomaterials for targeted nanomedicine (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700607). Besides cancer nanotherapeutics, this issue covers nanomedicine for infectious diseases and brain injury with the progress report by our board member Yi Yan Yang and Lanjuan Li and their teams which describes nanomaterials for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700509) and the review by Sarah Stabenfeldt et al. which discusses the current status of nanoparticle-based drug delivery in brain injury (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700668). Bringing together core methodology and understanding from engineering and the biosciences tissue engineering has progressed over the last three decades from a niche topic to a dominant research field in the biomaterials community. In this issue, we are pleased to present four articles describing the state of the art in tissue-engineering research. Already approved by many regulatory authorities for use in humans and suitable for chemical modification to control functional properties, the polymer Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid is an extremely important material for both tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. Bruno Sarmento and colleagues review this versatile polymer from the physical and chemical properties through to its use in the clinic (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201701035). In their review, David Nisbet and his team consider work in which tissue engineering and drug delivery meet (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700836). Combining knowledge and methodology from these two research areas gives the potential for the development of innovative regenerative constructs with enhanced healing properties. Increasingly sophisticated computational methods are impacting the design of materials for tissue engineering. With defined controllable porosity at a number of length scales, macroporous hydrogels have the potential to form scaffolds with sophisticated properties that facilitate the transport of nutrients through the material while also supporting cell adhesion, spreading, and differentiation. In their contribution, Todd Hoare and co-workers review macroporous hydrogels as tissue engineering constructs and for other applications (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700927). Finally, the use of cutting-edge theoretical modelling to optimise cell encapsulation and tissue growth in degradable hydrogel for personalized tissue engineering regimens is discussed by Stephanie Bryant and co-workers (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201700605). We are proud to be able to publish this engaging collection of cutting-edge topics from researchers around the world. If you enjoyed reading this collection, we recommend that you check out the Advanced Healthcare Materials virtual issues that have been curated by our editors to showcase the latest understanding in the fields of nanotherapeutics, regenerative medicine, biofabrication for tissue engineering, stem cells, and diagnostic devices (http://www.advancedsciencenews.com/materials-healthcare-virtually-advances/). Finally, our special thanks go to the authors who have contributed to this issue, to the reviewers who have helped us to ensure that we publish top-quality articles. Indeed, we are grateful to all the readers, reviewers, authors, and Editorial Advisory Board members who have supported Advanced Healthcare Materials over the last year and look forward to working with you again in 2018.