Title

Smart Bioactive Materials for Biomedical Applications

Description

Smart bioactive materials are a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field. They integrate chemistry, materials science, pharmacology, and biotechnology. These materials interact dynamically with biological systems. This provides controlled drug delivery, targeted therapeutic action, and improved biomedical performance. Advances in biomaterials and nanotechnology have led to sophisticated platforms that deliver therapeutic molecules with strong specificity and controlled release. Natural products and bioactive compounds come from medicinal plants, microorganisms, and marine organisms. They represent a rich source of pharmacologically active molecules with significant therapeutic potential. Embedding these compounds into nanostructured materials, nanoparticles, and hybrid delivery systems may improve their stability, bioavailability, and biological activity.

This special issue highlights recent advances in the design, synthesis, and biomedical applications of smart bioactive materials. It focuses on materials that incorporate natural bioactive molecules and nanotechnology-based therapeutic systems. By linking natural product research, materials science, and biomedical innovation, this issue promotes cross-disciplinary approaches. These approaches address health problems such as cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammatory disorders. We encourage researchers to submit their latest findings and innovations for consideration in this Special Issue.

Topics

• Smart biomaterials for biomedical applications

• Nanomaterials for drug delivery

• Bioactive nanoparticles and nanomedicine

• Natural product-based biomaterials

• Hybrid organic–inorganic bioactive materials

• Anticancer bioactive materials

• Antimicrobial smart materials

• Functionalized nanomaterials for targeted therapy

• Biomaterials for tissue regeneration

• Bioinspired materials for medical applications

Content types

Research articles, review articles, letters, commentaries, and perspectives

Deadline

October 31, 2026

Guest editors

Patrícia Rijo

Professor

CBIOS–Universidade Lusófona / iMed.ULisboa, University of Lisbon

Research area: Natural products chemistry, pharmacology of medicinal plants, and bioactive compounds for therapeutic applications

Email: patricia.rijo@ulusofona.pt

İlkay Erdoğan Orhan

Professor

Faculty of Pharmacy, Lokman Hekim University

Research area: Pharmacognosy, natural product chemistry, and phytotherapy with a focus on bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and their pharmacological applications

Email: ilkay.orhan@lokmanhekim.edu.tr

Douglas Siqueira de Almeida Chaves

Professor

Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro

Research area: Pharmacognosy and natural product chemistry, focusing on phytochemical analysis, isolation of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, and evaluation of their biological and pharmacological activities

Email: chavesdsa@ufrrj.br

Submission guidelines

Please submit your paper through our online submission system. All papers will be peer-reviewed. The submission deadline is October 31, 2026. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together. Research articles, review articles, letters, commentaries, and perspectives are invited.

hLife adopts format-free submission. Format-free submission means that, provided you include everything necessary for review and using a consistent citation format, you can submit your paper without needing to worry about formatting your manuscript to meet hLife’s requirements.

Please state in the cover letter that your submission is for the special section of “Smart Bioactive Materials for Biomedical Applications”. Article Publishing Charges (APCs) for accepted papers of hLife will be waived by December 2026.

Submission website

https://www.editorialmanager.com/hlife