International Journal of Nanomedicine

Smart Colloidal Systems for Biomedical Applications

Smart colloidal systems are an innovative class of materials capable of undergoing significant and reversible changes in response to external stimuli such as temperature, pH, light, electric and magnetic fields, or biological signals. Due to their tunable properties, biocompatibility, and degradability, these materials have garnered significant attention in the field of biomedical applications. They are widely utilized in areas such as controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensors, medical device coatings, and wound healing. The advantages of smart colloidal systems include high sensitivity, specificity, and customizability for different biomedical needs. However, challenges remain in their synthesis, scalability, long-term biocompatibility, and cost-effectiveness. Despite these hurdles, smart colloidal systems hold tremendous potential to revolutionize healthcare by offering advanced and responsive solutions tailored to the dynamic requirements of biological systems.

The study of smart colloidal systems for biomedical applications is of paramount importance due to their potential to address critical challenges in modern healthcare. These advanced materials offer unique capabilities, such as responsiveness to external stimuli (e.g., temperature, pH, light, and biological signals), which enable precise control over their behavior in complex biological environments. This responsiveness allows for the development of innovative solutions, such as targeted drug delivery systems that improve therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects, and stimuli-sensitive colloids that promote tissue regeneration in a controlled manner.

Furthermore, smart colloidal systems can mimic or interact with biological systems, making them highly suitable for applications like biosensors, implant coatings, and wound healing materials. Their biocompatibility and degradability ensure that they can be safely integrated into the body or used in temporary applications without long-term adverse effects. Moreover, as the prevalence of chronic diseases, drug resistance, and aging-related conditions continues to rise, smart colloidal systems provide a versatile platform for developing more effective and personalized medical treatments.

Research in this area also drives innovation in materials science, enabling the creation of more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable colloidal systems. Ultimately, understanding and advancing smart colloidal systems is crucial for improving healthcare outcomes, reducing treatment burdens, and addressing the growing global demand for advanced medical technologies.

Smart colloidal systems represent a transformative research area at the intersection of materials science and biomedicine, offering innovative solutions to address pressing healthcare challenges. This Collection focuses on advances in the design, synthesis, and biomedical applications of smart colloids, emphasizing their stimuli-responsive properties and their ability to interact with complex biological systems. Subtopics of interest include, but are not limited to, smart colloids for drug delivery systems, tissue engineering scaffolds, biosensors, medical device coatings, and wound healing materials. Studies exploring polymer biocompatibility, biodegradability, and scalability for clinical applications are also highly encouraged.

The Collection welcomes original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that provide critical insights or highlight emerging trends in this rapidly evolving field. Contributions focusing on translational research, including preclinical or clinical evaluations of smart colloidal systems, are particularly valued, as they align with the journal’s aim to bridge fundamental science and biomedical innovation.

Please review the journal’s aims and scope and author submission instructions prior to submission.

Please submit your manuscript through the Dovepress website. During submission, enter the promo code 4FCD0 to indicate that your submission is for consideration in this Article Collection. The manuscript submission deadline is 31 July 2026.

Please contact Haoyang Yi (Commissioning Editor) at [email protected] with any queries regarding this Article Collection.

Guest advisors

Prof. Xin Li, City University of Hong Kong, China

[email protected]

Xin Li is a Research Assistant Professor at Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong. He received his doctoral degree from RWTH Aachen University (Germany). Subsequently, he conducted research at DWI-Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials (Germany), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His current research focus on smart microgels for biomedical applications, and he has published 80+ research articles/book chapters, 100+ patents, and 20+ international/national awards.

Prof. Zhiyuan Shi, Tianjin University, China

[email protected]

Zhiyuan Shi is a Professor and Principal Investigator (PI) at the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University. She completed her undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Göttingen, Germany, and subsequently obtained a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the RWTH Aachen University, Germany. From 2020 to the end of 2022, she worked on bispecific antibody development at the University of Cologne, Germany. In 2023, she joined Tianjin University full-time to conduct independent scientific research. Dr. Shi has been dedicated to research in the fields of sonopharmacology and sonogenetics. She pioneered the introduction of mechanical switch structures into drug systems, using ultrasound and other mechanical forces to regulate the chemical properties of drugs, thereby achieving precise control over their pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. She has developed various mechanochemical prodrug activation systems, providing a novel theoretical and technical framework for drug development.

Prof. Andrij Pich, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

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In 2009 Andrij Pich was appointed to Lichtenberg Professor for Functional and Interactive Polymers at RWTH Aachen University. Since 2019 he is also a Professor for Biobased Polymers at Maastricht University (part time professorship). After studying chemical technology in Lviv/Ukraine he received his PhD from the Technical University Dresden in 2001. In 2006/2007 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto/Canada. In 2007 he received the Georg Manecke Award of the GDCh (German Chemical Society) and completed his habilitation in 2008 at Technical University Dresden. His research focusses on the synthesis of functional polymers and polymer colloids with variable chemical structures and morphologies and their use for the design of functional and interactive materials.

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