Special issue “Antimicrobial biomaterials: recent progress”

Abstract

[Excerpt] Biomaterials have demonstrated their ability to serve as effective drug delivery platforms, enabling targeted and localized administration of therapeutic agents. The development of biomaterial-based drug delivery systems has been particularly beneficial in the management of various medical conditions [1,2]. In the field of cancer treatment, biomaterial-based nanoparticles and liposomes can precisely deliver chemotherapeutic agents to cancerous cells, thus reducing the impact on healthy tissues and minimizing side effects [3]. In the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, biomaterial-coated drug-eluting stents have been shown to release pharmaceutical agents locally, reducing the risk of restenosis [4]. Moreover, biomaterials have played a crucial role in overcoming the blood–brain barrier, allowing for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to be treated by target-directed drug delivery vehicles [5]. Biomaterial scaffolds in wound healing have also demonstrated the ability to facilitate cell growth while fighting infections [6,7].[...]