Dear Colleagues,

Understanding the mechanical behaviour of biological components, like those of human and animal bodies, plays a crucial role in monitoring their functionalities. In addition, the marvellous mechanical performance of biological tissues, in the recent years has inspired in-depth analyses by researchers, who are involved in studying how to mimic these properties for many applications. Indeed, for several years now, bio-inspired materials have been employed to fabricate medical devices (e.g. optimal adhesive tapes), as well as miniaturized robots, but also many examples exists in the regenerative medicine, such as the synthetic tissues, which are utilized for treating injuries (e.g. in ligament, brain and spinal cord). However, when considering a biomaterial to be used in implants, various aspects, such as biocompatibility and its mechanical functions, should also be studied.

So far, some specific properties of these materials have not yet been well characterized and, hence, replicated, due to the complicated experimental measurements to be carried out with the suitable instrumentation, and the difficulty in developing theories able to properly predict their mechanical behaviour. The main goal of this special issue is to report advances in this research field, and to disclose some still unknown characteristics of human and animal organ  materials, which are typically heterogeneous, ultra-soft and sometimes biphasic, non-linear or viscoelastic.

The research topic welcomes original research and review articles, and is devoted to a worthwhile exchange of novel insights regarding biological components and their material properties. Both experimental and modelling approaches are expected, in order to contribute to a more profound and thorough understanding of the mechanical behaviour of living matter. Due to the intrinsic multidisciplinary nature of this research topic, synergies are encouraged between different fields, as engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics.

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Carbone
Dr. Elena Pierro
Guest Editors

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• biological tissues
• tissue engineering
• biomimetic materials
• mechanical characterization
• biomimetics
• mechanical properties
• non linear materials
• viscoelastic materials