The 3D printing (3DP) process was patented in 1986; however, only in the last decade has it begun to be used for medical applications, as well as in the fields of prosthetics, bio-fabrication, and pharmaceutical printing. 3DP or additive manufacturing (AM) is a family of technologies that implement layer-by-layer processes in order to fabricate physical models based on a computer aided design (CAD) model. 3D printing permits the fabrication of high degrees of complexity with great reproducibility in a fast and cost-effective fashion. 3DP technology offers a new paradigm for the direct manufacture of individual dosage forms and has the potential to allow for variations in size and geometry as well as control dose and release behavior. Furthermore, the low cost and ease of use of 3DP systems means that the possibility of manufacturing medicines and medical devices at the point of dispensing or at the point of use could become a reality. 3DP thus offers the perfect innovative manufacturing route to address the critical capability gap that hinders the widespread exploitation of personalized medicines for molecules that are currently not easy to deliver. This Special Issue will address new developments in the area of 3D printing and bioprinting for drug delivery applications, covering the recent advantages and future directions of additive manufacturing for pharmaceutical products.

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The family of technologies collectively known as additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, and often called 3D-printing technologies, is rapidly revolutionizing industrial production. AM’s potential to produce intricate and customized parts starting from a digital 3D model makes it one of the main pillars for the forthcoming Industry 4.0. Thanks to its advantages over traditional manufacturing methodologies, AM finds potential applicability in virtually all production fields. As a natural consequence of this, research in this field is primarily focused on the development of novel materials and techniques for 3D printing. This Special Issue of Technologies, titled “3D Printing Technologies”, aims at promoting the latest knowledge in materials, processes, and applications for AM. It is composed of six contributions, authored by influential scientists in the field of advanced 3D printing. The intended audience includes professors, graduate students, researchers, engineers and specialists working in the field of AM.

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Additive manufacturing technology offers the ability to produce personalized products with lower development costs, shorter lead times, less energy consumed during manufacturing and less material waste. It can be used to manufacture complex parts and enables manufacturers to reduce their inventory, make products on-demand, create smaller and localized manufacturing environments, and even reduce supply chains. Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as fabricating three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) components, refers to processes that allow for the direct fabrication of physical products from computer-aided design (CAD) models through the repetitious deposition of material layers. Compared with traditional manufacturing processes, AM allows the production of customized parts from bio- and synthetic polymers without the need for molds or machining typical for conventional formative and subtractive fabrication.In this Special Issue, we aimed to capture the cutting-edge state-of-the-art research pertaining to advancing the additive manufacturing of polymeric materials. The topic themes include advanced polymeric material development, processing parameter optimization, characterization techniques, structure–property relationships, process modelling, etc., specifically for AM.

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The "Advance in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers" Special Issue establishes a connection between original research papers and reviews that showcase recent progress in the formulation, creation, and wide-ranging utilization of molecularly imprinted polymers. The content within this Special Issue encompasses a range of subjects pertaining to the chemistry of MIPs, encompassing aspects such as molecular modeling, the utilization of novel monomers and innovative synthesis methods for crafting MIPs, the synthesis and application of ion-imprinted materials, the selective extraction of organic compounds, the preparation of sensors, and the implementation of MIPs in the field of medicine. The compilation of scientific papers presented in this collection demonstrates the diverse landscape of research within MIPs chemistry, ultimately leading to the enhancement of desired traits and the exploration of fresh potential applications for these materials.

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The book provides a comprehensive overview of nanostructures and methods used to design biosensors, as well as applications for these biosensor nanotechnologies in the biological, chemical, and environmental monitoring fields. Biological sensing has proven to be an essential tool for understanding living systems, but it also has practical applications in medicine, drug discovery, food safety, environmental monitoring, defense, personal security, etc. In healthcare, advancements in telecommunications, expert systems, and distributed diagnostics are challenging current delivery models, while robust industrial sensors enable new approaches to research and development. Experts from around the world have written five articles on topics including:Diagnosing and treating intraocular cancers such as retinoblastoma; Nanomedicine in cancer management; Engineered nanomaterials in osteosarcoma diagnosis and treatment; Practical design of nanoscale devices; Detect alkaline phosphatase quantitatively in clinical diagnosis; Progress in the area of non-enzymatic sensing of dual/multi biomolecules; Developments in non-enzymatic glucose and H2O2 (NEGH) sensing; Multi-functionalized nanocarrier therapies for targeting retinoblastoma; Galactose functionalized nanocarriers; Sensing performance, electro-catalytic mechanism, and morphology and design of electrode materials; Biosensors along with their applications and the benefits of machine learning; Innovative approaches to improve the NEGH sensitivity, selectivity, and stability in real-time applications; Challenges and solutions in the field of biosensors.

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Advanced Blood-Brain Barrier Drug Delivery is a reprint with a summary editorial, followed by 16 chapters that cover five areas of brain drug delivery, including receptor-mediated transport (RMT), carrier-mediated transport (CMT), active efflux transport (AET), Trojan horse lipid nanoparticles (LNP), and in vivo methods for measurement of drug transport across the blood–brain barrier (BBB).

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This Special Issue, entitled "Advanced Materials for Multifunctional Applications", focuses on investigating the changes in the microstructure of modern engineering alloys and how these changes affect their mechanical and corrosion characteristics.

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Development of new drug molecules is costly and requires longitudinal, wide-ranging studies; therefore, designing advanced pharmaceutical formulations for existing and well-known drugs seems to be an attractive device for the pharmaceutical industry. Properly formulated drug delivery systems can improve pharmacological activity, efficacy and safety of the active substances. Advanced materials applied as pharmaceutical excipients in designing drug delivery systems can help solve problems concerning the required drug release—with the defined dissolution rate and at the determined site. Novel drug carriers enable more effective drug delivery, with improved safety and with fewer side effects. Investigations concerning advanced materials represent a rapidly growing research field in material/polymer science, chemical engineering and pharmaceutical technology. Exploring novel materials or modifying and combining existing ones is now a crucial trend in pharmaceutical technology. Eleven articles included in the the Special Issue “Advanced Materials in Drug Release and Drug Delivery Systems” present the most recent insights into the utilization of different materials with promising potential in drug delivery and into different formulation approaches that can be used in the design of pharmaceutical formulations.

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This Special Issue on “Advanced Nanomaterials in Biomedical Application” aimed to showcase the most recent advances in nanomaterials, not only in terms of their synthesis and characterization, but also their technological application. This Special Issue welcomed the submission of original research articles and reviews. Research areas include all types of nanomaterials used in the development of medical applications (e.g., therapeutic: anticancer, antibacterial, toxicology; diagnostic: imaging; nanodevices, and others).

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Polymers are the largest and most versatile class of biomaterials, being extensively applied for therapeutic applications. From natural to synthetic polymers, the possibilities to design and modify their physical-chemical properties make these systems of great interest in a wide range of biomedical applications as diverse as drug delivery systems, organ-on-a-chip, diagnostics, tissue engineering, and so on.In recent years, advances in the synthesis and modification of polymers and characterization techniques have allowed the design of novel biomaterials as well as the study of their biological behavior in vitro and in vivo.The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight recent achievements in the synthesis and modification of polymers for biomedical applications for final applications in the field of biomedicine.

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This reprint summarizes recent advances in the production and research of biobased and biodegradable polymeric composites for various applications. The development and characterization of environmentally friendly, conductive and biomedical materials as well as materials with barrier and antimicrobial properties have been considered and discussed.

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This volume collects the recent progress in cellulose-based hydrogels, including gels prepared from natural cellulose and its derivatives, cellulose graft co-polymers, and composite gels based on cellulose, covering key aspects of cellulose-based hydrogels, including design, characterization, as well as application-focused research.

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Functional advanced biopolymers have received far less attention than renewable biomass (cellulose, rubber, etc.) used for energy production. Among the most advanced biopolymers known is chitosan. The term chitosan refers to a family of polysaccharides obtained by partial de-N-acetylation from chitin, one of the most abundant renewable resources in the biosphere. Chitosan has been firmly established as having unique material properties as well as biological activities. Either in its native form or as a chemical derivative, chitosan is amenable to being processed—typically under mild conditions—into soft materials such as hydrogels, colloidal nanoparticles, or nanofibers. Given its multiple biological properties, including biodegradability, antimicrobial effects, gene transfectability, and metal adsorption—to name but a few—chitosan is regarded as a widely versatile building block in various sectors (e.g., agriculture, food, cosmetics, pharmacy) and for various applications (medical devices, metal adsorption, catalysis, etc.). This Special Issue presents an updated account addressing some of the major applications, including also chemical and enzymatic modifications of oligos and polymers. A better understanding of the properties that underpin the use of chitin and chitosan in different fields is key for boosting their more extensive industrial utilization, as well as to aid regulatory agencies in establishing specifications, guidelines, and standards for the different types of products and applications.

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Mucoadhesive polymers are widely used in the design of dosage forms for transmucosal drug delivery to the eye, respiratory, gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts. These routes of drug administration offer a number of advantages including improved drug bioavailability, reduced frequency of administration, and the avoidance for the use of injections.

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In the last two decades, nanogels have emerged as very promising and versatile biomaterials suitable for a wide range of applications. Their features, such as large surface areas, the ability to hold molecules, flexibility in their size and their water-based formulations, have earned them great recognition as drug delivery systems for various in vivo applications, confirming their potential. On the other hand, because of their tuneable and versatile characteristics, nanogels have been investigated in recent years for applications in various fields other than biomedicine. In view of this variety of possible applications of nanogels, in this Special Issue, we extend our knowledge on the topic of their possible uses described in literature, taking stock of the state-of-the-art for all possible nanogel applications and their synthesis methods.

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Advances in Nanomaterials in Biomedicine” provided a platform for more than 110 researchers from different countries to present their latest investigations in various fields of nanotechnology, new methods and nanomaterials intended for medical applications. Modern achievements in the field of nanoparticle-based diagnostics, drug delivery and the use of various nanomaterials in the treatment of diseases are presented in 11 original articles. The published reviews provide a comprehensive analysis of the current information on the use of nanomedicine in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer and liver fibrosis, in the field of solid tissue engineering and in drug delivery systems.

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Viruses of the Parvoviridae family constitute a most diverse and intriguing field of research. Parvoviruses can differ widely in their structure, genome organization and expression, virus–cell interactions, and impact on hosts. The translational implication of research on parvoviruses is relevant, since many viruses are important human and veterinary pathogens, while other viruses can be engineered as tools for oncolytic therapy or as sophisticated gene delivery vectors. Exploring the diversity and inherent complexity in the biology of these apparently simple viruses is a still challenging topic for the scientific community. The Special Issue of Viruses is a collection of recent contributions in the field of parvovirus research, encompassing many aspects of basic and translational research on viruses of the family Parvoviridae, including on their structure, replication, and gene expression in addition to virus–host interactions and the development of vaccines and viral vectors.

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Worldwide, 278 million people are estimated to have moderate to profound hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbyacusis, affects approximately half of the population over 60 years old, making it the second most common cause of disability in older people. Hearing loss occurs when the sensory cells and neurons of the cochlea degenerate and die. The vestibular system, which holds the sense of balance, shares a common embryonic origin with the cochlea and together conform the inner ear. Balance problems are a trait of ageing to the point that balance ability is considered a sensor of physical decline and vestibular degeneration is the most common cause of falls in the elderly. Still the molecular bases of ageing in the vestibular system have not been studied in detail. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the progression of age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Being noise the main environmental noxious agent for human hearing in the industrialized societies. There is no restorative treatment for deafness but functional replacement by means of prosthesis. Therefore, prevention and treatment of hearing loss is an unmet medical need. To develop innovative medical strategies against hearing loss, it is critical to understand the causes of ARHL and the essential pathways responsible for the manifestation of this complex disease. In this research topic, experts will discuss the stages and molecular elements of the damage and repair processes involved in ARHL, from cellular processes to molecules involved in aging. Oxidative stress takes a central stage as an essential element in the progression of injury and cell loss, and a target for cell protection strategies. Finally, the mechanisms of action and the potential of novel therapies for hair cell repair and protection will be discussed along with drug delivery strategies.

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Algae - Organisms for Imminent Biotechnology will be useful source of information on basic and applied aspects of algae for post graduate students, researchers, scientists, agriculturists, and decision makers. The book comprises a total of 12 chapters covering various aspects of algae particularly on microalgal biotechnology, bloom dynamics, photobioreactor design and operation of microalgal mass cultivation, algae used as indicator of water quality, microalgal biosensors for ecological monitoring in aquatic environment, carbon capture and storage by microalgae to enhancing CO2 removal, synthesis and biotechnological potentials of algal nanoparticles, biofilms, silica-based nanovectors, challenges and opportunities in marine algae, and genetic identification and mass propagation of economically important seaweeds and seaweeds as source of new bioactive prototypes.

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Creating antibacterial surfaces is the primary approach in preventing the occurrence and diffusion of clinical infections and foodborne diseases as well as in contrasting the propagation of pandemics in everyday life. Proper surface engineering can inhibit microorganism spread and biofilm formation, can contrast antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and can avoid cross-contamination from a contaminated surface to another and eventually to humans. For these reasons, antibacterial surfaces play a key role in many applications, ranging from biomedicine to food and beverage materials, textiles, and objects with frequent human contact. The incorporation of antimicrobial agents within a surface or their addition onto a surface are very effective strategies to achieve this aim and to properly modify many other surface properties at the same time. In this framework, this Special Issue collects research studying several materials and methods related to the antibacterial properties of surfaces for different applications and discussions about the environmental and human-safety aspects.

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The past decades have seen major developments in the understanding of the cellular and molecular biology of cancer. Significant progress has been achieved regarding long-term survival for the patients of many cancers with the use of tamoxifen for treatment of breast cancer, treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia with imatinib, and the success of biological drugs. The transition from cytotoxic chemotherapy to targeted cancer drug discovery and development has resulted in an increasing selection of tools available to oncologists. In this Special Issue of Pharmaceuticals, we highlight the opportunities and challenges in the discovery and design of innovative cancer therapies, novel small-molecule cancer drugs and antibody–drug conjugates, with articles covering a variety of anticancer therapies and potential relevant disease states and applications. Significant efforts are being made to develop and improve cancer treatments and to translate basic research findings into clinical use, resulting in improvements in survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients. We demonstrate the possibilities and scope for future research in these areas and also highlight the challenges faced by scientists in the area of anticancer drug development leading to improved targeted treatments and better survival rates for cancer patients.

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The surfactants are among the materials that have a significant importance in everyday life of human. The rapid growth in science and technology has opened new horizons in a very wide range, in which the surfactants play a major and vital role. Hence, the increasing number of applications as well as arising environmental issues has made this relatively old topic still a hot research theme. In the first section of this book, some of the applications of surfactants in various fields such as biology and petroleum industry, as well as their environmental effects, are described. In Section 2 some experimental techniques used for characterization of the surfactants have been discussed.

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Chitin and chitosan are abundant marine-derived biopolymers with unique properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cost. Furthermore, their functional groups easily enable versatile modifications for biomedical and tissue engineering applications. Processing strategies allow tuning of their characteristics, including their degree of deacetylation, molecular weight, viscosity, and mineral and protein content, making them highly adaptable compared to synthetic polymers. These sustainable materials have demonstrated significant potential in therapeutic biomaterials, including anti-infective coatings, tissue engineering scaffolds, drug delivery systems, gene therapy vectors, and implant applications. Through this reprint, we aim to showcase advances that expand the role of these natural polymers in next-generation healthcare solutions.

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To mark the recent advances in nanomaterials and nanotechnology in biomedical imaging and cancer therapy, this book, entitled Application of Nanomaterials in Biomedical Imaging and Cancer Therapy includes a collection of important nanomaterial studies on medical imaging and therapy. The book covers recent works on hyperthermia, external beam radiotherapy, MRI-guided radiotherapy, immunotherapy, photothermal therapy, and photodynamic therapy, as well as medical imaging, including high-contrast and deep-tissue imaging, quantum sensing, super-resolution microscopy, and three-dimensional correlative light and electron microscopy. The significant research results and findings explored in this work are expected to help students, researchers and teachers working in the field of nanomaterials and nanotechnology in biomedical physics, to keep pace with the rapid development and the applications of nanomaterials in precise imaging and targeted therapy.

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This book presents an overview of the status and recent trends in ferrites. It provides readers with a clear understanding of both the theory and applications of ferrites. It also discusses challenges, opportunities, and new directions for the future development of ferrite technology. The book provides fundamental knowledge and up-to-date information to enable advanced study in the field and is therefore a useful resource for research students, scientists, engineers, and materials scientists.

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This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact

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This reprint focuses on studies dealing with bio-based materials and its contribution to a circular economy. Research dealing with recycling, waste conversion to bio-based products, the development of bio-based composites, and surface treatments on cellulose fibres have been included in this reprint.

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Three-dimensional (3D) printing has evolved massively during the last years. The 3D printing technologies offer various advantages, including: i) tailor-made design, ii) rapid prototyping, and iii) manufacturing of complex structures. Importantly, 3D printing is currently finding its potential in tissue engineering, wound dressings, tissue models for drug testing, prosthesis, and biosensors, to name a few. One important factor is the optimized composition of inks that can facilitate the deposition of cells, fabrication of vascularized tissue and the structuring of complex constructs that are similar to functional organs. Biocomposite inks can include synthetic and natural polymers, such as poly (ε-caprolactone), polylactic acid, collagen, hyaluronic acid, alginate, nanocellulose, and may be complemented with cross-linkers to stabilize the constructs and with bioactive molecules to add functionality. Inks that contain living cells are referred to as bioinks and the process as 3D bioprinting. Some of the key aspects of the formulation of bioinks are, e.g., the tailoring of mechanical properties, biocompatibility and the rheological behavior of the ink which may affect the cell viability, proliferation, and cell differentiation.The current Special Issue emphasizes the bio-technological engineering of novel biocomposite inks for various 3D printing technologies, also considering important aspects in the production and use of bioinks.

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This book discusses the synthesis, characterization and applications of biocomposites and nano-biocomposites. It focuses on recent studies, applications, and new technological developments in the fundamental properties of biocomposites. The book includes six chapters that address topics such as the biomedical applications and characterization of biopolymers, biocomposites, and nano-biocomposites.

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