Functional materials at the biointerface

Functional materials, capable of responding to and interacting with external stimuli, have transformed materials science and nanotechnology and opened new opportunities for interacting with and modulating biological systems. Because biological phenomena span multiple length scales, from molecular and cellular interactions to tissue- and organ-level organization, functional materials can provide tools to investigate and control these processes, from nanoscale systems that influence intracellular pathways and cell behavior to larger-scale materials and devices that guide tissue organization and function.

This thematic issue aims to highlight recent advances and emerging concepts in material–biological interactions, with a particular focus on strategies to modulate cellular behavior, control tissue properties, and influence complex biological systems. A multiscale perspective provides a framework for bridging molecular and cellular mechanisms with tissue-level functions and biomedical applications.

The scope includes the discovery, design, fabrication, and application of functional materials in nano-, micro- and macroscopic biological contexts, as well as their potential translation toward clinically relevant challenges. The thematic issue welcomes contributions from nanoscience and nanotechnology, materials science, cell biology, pharmaceutics, bioengineering, physics, chemistry, and related disciplines, bringing together established researchers and early-career scientists to exchange ideas and foster interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and controlling biological systems through functional materials.

Submission deadline: March 31, 2027