Functionalized Biomaterials: Design and Applications for Tissue Repair and Antibacterial Treatment
TL;DR
This review surveys strategies spanning surface engineering to three-dimensional scaffolds to examine how nanoscale and hierarchical topographies on dense implants instruct protein adsorption and osteogenesis, then assess antibacterial coatings that must balance bactericidal potency with hostcell safety.
Abstract
Bone defects and implant-associated infections demand biomaterials that actively direct tissue repair while eliminating pathogens. This review surveys strategies spanning surface engineering to three-dimensional scaffolds. We first examine how nanoscale and hierarchical topographies on dense implants instruct protein adsorption and osteogenesis, then assess antibacterial coatings-including metal-ion releasing, oxide-based, and stimuli-responsive systems-that must balance bactericidal potency with hostcell safety. Moving to porous constructs, we highlight advanced manufacturing for vascularization, hydrogel platforms for spatiotemporally controlled delivery, and bioceramics whose ion release couples degradation with bioactivity. Metallic and carbon-based nanomaterials are explored for antimicrobial and theranostic functions. Finally, we analyze the competitive cell-bacteria interplay at the implant interface and the corrosion behavior of biodegradable metals. Integrating multiscale design with biological responsiveness points toward intelligent implants that sense infection, deliver therapy on demand, and seamlessly promote regeneration.