It has been 50 years since Dr. Robert Langer and Dr. Judah Folkman published their seminal paper – “Polymers for the sustained release of proteins and other macromolecules”.1 They demonstrated that synthetic polymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate, an elastomeric copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, could be engineered to release large, complex molecules continuously in the body. This groundbreaking scholarly publication laid the foundation for the development of the modern-day drug delivery systems. While Dr. Folkman is considered to be the father of research in angiogenesis (growth of new capillary blood vessels from preexisting blood vessels),2 the collaborations between Dr. Langer and Dr. Folkman led to revolutionizing modern medicine, particularly in the areas of research in cancer3,4 and controlled drug release technology.5 By cutting off blood supply to tumors, Folkman had proposed that cancer could be starved into remission.
Today, the controlled drug release technology represents a very mature component of the health-care industry. There are several well-established approaches to administer drugs. These include implantable, injectable, nasal, ocular, oral, pulmonary, topical, transdermal patch, and transmucosal methods addressing a variety of applications including autoimmune disorders, cancers, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. At the present time, the global pharmaceutical drug delivery market is valued to be in excess of $2.1 trillion and is anticipated to reach a value > $2.9 trillion by 2031.6
On a serendipitous note, it has been 30 years since the U.S. Federal Drug Administration approved7 the first ever localized chemotherapy drug, Gliadel wafer.8 It is made from biodegradable polymer matrix and is designed to deliver medication, Carmustine,9 directly to the tumor site subsequent to brain surgery. While Gliadel wafers are a standard in modern neuro-oncology, they represent a debated treatment option due to modest survival gains as well as the concern for increased toxicity and postoperative complications.
Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials is pleased to present the second issue of the journal for 2026.
The first of the papers in this issue is entitled “An overview of nanocellulose filtration membranes for industrial wastewater treatment”.10 This paper authored by M. Siraj Alam of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, India, S.S. Narvi of the Department of Chemistry, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology. Allahabad, India and Vidya Singh of the Department of Chemistry, Maharaja Bijli Pasi Government P.G. College, Ashiana, Lucknow, India, focuses on nanocellulose (NC) and its derivatives. These materials have garnered interest in recent years as viable bio-based materials for water treatment applications because of their high strength, high surface area, and biocompatible, renewable nature. The –OH functional groups on the surfaces of cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibrils allow for a variety of surface modifications, resulting in useful nanocomposites with adaptable characteristics. A variety of factors, such as synthesis techniques, surface alterations, hydrophilic and hydrophobic qualities, pore size, and lasting qualities, influence the commercial application of NC composite-based materials in industrial wastewater treatment processes. Recent developments in the production of novel adsorbents or membranes have promoted the use of cleaner industrial wastewater treatment systems based on NC. Using a variety of NC composites as basis materials, this paper attempts to provide an overview of the significant advancements made thus far in the creation of composite materials for the treatment of industrial wastewater. The unique properties of industrial wastewater treatment materials based on NC, their production methods, and how well they remove impurities such as bacteria, heavy metals, pigments, and oils from water are also discussed in this paper.
Daiyuan Li of the School of Geography and Environment, Mianyang Teachers’ College, Mianyang, China, Yalu Li, Xiaorong Wang, Rui Lv, Baomei Huang of the School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Mianyang Teachers’ College, Mianyang, China, and Shuxin Liu of the Department of Science and Technology, Mianyang Teachers’ College, Mianyang, China report their studies on “Construction of nature-inspired organophyllosilicate nanozyme with urease mimetic activity”.11 Inspired by the catalytic properties of natural enzymes and the advantages of nanozymes, a nickel contained organo-phyllosilicate (NiAC) was constructed by a facile one-step sol-gel method under mild conditions. The catalytic performance of the urease-like activity was systematically investigated using Nessler’s reagent spectrophotometric method to detect the produced ammonia. Subsequently, comprehensive evaluations were performed under different environmental conditions. This exhibited excellent catalytic activity over pH range of 4.5–6.5 and at temperatures ranging from 378°C to 978°C, which effectively overcomes the inherent limitation of the natural urease’s susceptibility to mutation under extreme conditions. Further analysis of the catalytic mechanism was explored via steady-state kinetic analysis. The Km (Michaelis constant) was calculated to be 0.0185 mM, which was lower than that of natural urease. The low cost, simple synthesis, and excellent environmental stability (resistance to strong acids and high temperatures) of NiAC highlight its potential as a powerful and economical green alternative to natural urease, which provides new insights into the molecular design of hydrolytic nanozymes and lays the foundation for their practical applications in areas such as soil remediation and wastewater treatment.
“Zinc titanate nanocomposites for bactericidal activity and pharmaceutical pollutant degradation”12 is a study reported by Mohammed M. Fadhali of the Department of Physical Sciences, Physics Division, College of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Husam M. Fadhali and Sahrah N. Sedeeq of the Clinical Training Unit, College of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mariam A. Dhameri of the Department of Physical Sciences, Physics Division, College of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Khatib Sayeed Ismail and Abdulrahman Shater of the Department of Biology, College of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Mukul Sharma of the Environment and Nature Research Centre, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In this study, nanocomposites of zinc titanate (ZnTiO3) have been synthesized, and their structural, morphological, and optical properties were thoroughly investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of ZnTiO3 with a dominant spinel cubic phase, with crystallite sizes ranging from 18 nm (pristine TiO2) to 42 nm (ZnTiO3 with 5% doping). Structural and optical characterizations confirmed the successful incorporation of Zn into the TiO2 lattice, resulting in the formation of a perovskite ZnTiO3 phase with a narrowed bandgap of 2.95 eV, compared to 3.13 eV for TiO2 and 3.10 eV for ZnO. The photocatalytic efficiency for methylene blue degradation was significantly enhanced, achieving 98.9% degradation within 120 min, surpassing undoped TiO2 (68%) and ZnO (72%). In addition, an improved degradation rate constant of 0.0336 min−1 was obtained. The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus), gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and the fungal strain Candida albicans. Results demonstrated that ZnTiO3 exhibited the highest bactericidal activity at low concentrations, outperforming the standard antibiotic control (Nalidixic acid, 30 mg/ml) in many cases. Dose-dependent inhibition studies showed enhanced antimicrobial effects at 10 mg/ml, with 2.5 mg/ml identified as the optimal concentration, balancing efficacy, and minimal toxicity.
The last of the papers in this issue of the journal focuses on “Evaluation of the antibacterial effects of titanium nanoparticles at multiple concentrations”.13 Sendian Khaleel Omar and Bilal K. Al-Rawi of the Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Anbar, Anbar, Iraq, are the coauthors of the paper. This study investigates the concentration-dependent antibacterial efficacy of titanium nanoparticles (Ti NPs). Ti NPs were synthesized at 10%, 15%, and 25% concentrations in aqueous suspensions. Structural characterization via X-ray diffraction confirmed the crystalline metallic titanium phase with a hexagonal close-packed structure. Morphological analysis using field-emission scanning electron microscopy revealed particles in the nano-range (20–300 nm), with particle size decreasing and agglomeration increasing at higher concentrations. Optical properties assessed by UV–vis spectroscopy showed strong absorption between 200 and 300 nm, and Tauc plot analysis indicated a reduction in the optical bandgap from 5.55 to 4.55 eV with increasing concentration, attributed to defect-induced states. Zeta potential measurements confirmed decreased colloidal stability at elevated concentrations. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Klebsiella pneumoniae and S. aureus using disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. The results demonstrated significant, concentration-dependent antibacterial effects, with optimal inhibition zones of 16 and 15 mm for K. pneumoniae and S. aureus, respectively, and MIC values ranging from 125 to 500 mg/ml. This work highlights the tunable antimicrobial potential of Ti NPs and underscores the critical influence of concentration on their physicochemical and biological properties for biomedical applications.
The Editor is thankful to the Editorial Team: Commissioning Editor – Alessandra Morelli; Journal Production Coordinator – Parisa Zare; Supplier Project Manager – Janhavi Dalal; Peer Review Editor – Kirsten Buchanan and Journal Production Coordinator – Meghan McDonagh.
