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Although sphingolipids are ubiquitous components of cellular membranes, their abundance in cells is generally lower than glycerolipids or cholesterol, representing less than 20% of total lipid mass. Following their discovery in the brain—which contains the largest amounts of sphingolipids in the body—and first description in 1884 by J.L.W. Thudichum, sphingolipids have been overlooked for almost a century, perhaps due to their complexity and enigmatic nature. When sphingolipidoses were discovered, a series of inherited diseases caused by enzyme mutations involved in sphingolipid degradation returned to the limelight. The essential breakthrough came decades later, in the 1990s, with the discovery that sphingolipids were not just structural elements of cellular membranes but intra- and extracellular signaling molecules. It turned out that their lipid backbones, including ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate, had selective physiological functions. Thus, sphingolipids emerged as essential players in several pathologies including cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases. The present volume reflects upon the unexpectedly eclectic functions of sphingolipids in health, disease, and therapy. This fascinating lipid class will continue to be the subject of up-and-coming future discoveries, especially with regard to new therapeutic strategies.

S1P receptor --- inflammation --- S1P transporter --- spinster homolog 2 --- barrier dysfunction --- anxiety --- depression --- sphingolipids --- sphingomyelinase --- ceramidase --- Smpd1 --- acid sphingomyelinase --- forebrain --- depressive-like behavior --- anxiety-like behavior --- ceramide --- ceramides --- ceramidases --- neurodegenerative diseases --- infectious diseases --- sphingosine 1-phoshate --- sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor --- S1P1–5 --- sphingosine 1-phosphate metabolism --- sphingosine 1-phosphate antagonistst/inhibitors --- sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling --- stroke --- multiple sclerosis --- neurodegeneration --- fingolimod --- Sphingosine-1-phosphate --- obesity --- type 2 diabetes --- insulin resistance --- pancreatic β cell fate --- hypothalamus --- sphingosine-1-phosphate --- ischemia/reperfusion --- cardioprotection --- vasoconstriction --- coronary flow --- myocardial function --- myocardial infarct --- albumin --- type 1 diabetes --- beta-cells --- islets --- insulin --- cytokines --- S1P --- animal models --- cystic fibrosis --- autophagy --- myriocin --- Aspergillus fumigatus --- CLN3 disease --- Cln3Δex7/8 mice --- flupirtine --- allyl carbamate derivative --- apoptosis --- cancer --- gangliosides --- immunotherapy --- metastasis --- phenotype switching --- sphingosine 1-phosphate --- Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) --- S1P-lyase (SGPL1) --- tau --- calcium --- histone acetylation --- hippocampus --- cortex --- astrocytes --- neurons --- sphingosine kinase --- G-protein-coupled receptors --- Gαq/11 --- n/a --- sphingosine kinase 1 --- SK1 --- microRNA --- transcription factor --- hypoxia --- long non-coding RNA --- S1P1-5

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Coatings based on hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphates have a significant relevance in several research fields, such as biomaterials, cultural heritage, and water treatment, due to their characteristic properties. Hydroxyapatite can easily accommodate foreign ions, which can either be incorporated into the lattice, thanks to its specific lattice characteristics, or be adsorbed onto its surface. All these substitutions significantly alter the morphology, lattice parameters, and crystallinity of hydroxyapatite so they influence its main properties. These ion substitutions can be sought or can derive from substrate contaminations, which is an important aspect to be evaluated. Finally, this capability can be used to obtain hydroxyapatites with specific properties, such as antibacterial characteristics, among others. For these reasons, the aim of this Special Issue is to document current advances in the field of ion-substituted hydroxyapatites and highlight possible future perspectives regarding their use. Contributions in the form of original articles and review articles are presented, covering different areas of application.

History of engineering & technology --- calcium phosphates --- ion-substituted apatites --- bone regeneration --- plasma-assisted deposition --- solubility --- crystallinity --- composition --- lithium-doped hydroxyapatite coatings --- renewable resources for implant coatings --- pulsed laser deposition --- biocompatibility --- inhibition of microbial biofilms development --- zinc --- hydroxyapatite --- ultrasound measurement --- sol–gel spin coating --- layers --- C. albicans --- S. aureus --- calcium phosphate --- magnesium phosphate --- struvite --- dolomite --- consolidating treatment --- cultural heritage --- ammonium phosphate --- marble --- calcite --- dissolution --- electrodeposition --- protective coatings --- acid attack --- potential --- current --- RF magnetron sputtering --- GLAD --- carbonated hydroxyapatite --- nanomaterials --- coatings --- cave painting --- inorganic consolidant --- ethyl silicate --- TEOS --- non-thermal plasma --- wettability --- bone --- allograft --- autograft --- xenograft --- ion-substituted calcium phosphates --- nanostructured coatings

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Coatings based on hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphates have a significant relevance in several research fields, such as biomaterials, cultural heritage, and water treatment, due to their characteristic properties. Hydroxyapatite can easily accommodate foreign ions, which can either be incorporated into the lattice, thanks to its specific lattice characteristics, or be adsorbed onto its surface. All these substitutions significantly alter the morphology, lattice parameters, and crystallinity of hydroxyapatite so they influence its main properties. These ion substitutions can be sought or can derive from substrate contaminations, which is an important aspect to be evaluated. Finally, this capability can be used to obtain hydroxyapatites with specific properties, such as antibacterial characteristics, among others. For these reasons, the aim of this Special Issue is to document current advances in the field of ion-substituted hydroxyapatites and highlight possible future perspectives regarding their use. Contributions in the form of original articles and review articles are presented, covering different areas of application.

History of engineering & technology --- calcium phosphates --- ion-substituted apatites --- bone regeneration --- plasma-assisted deposition --- solubility --- crystallinity --- composition --- lithium-doped hydroxyapatite coatings --- renewable resources for implant coatings --- pulsed laser deposition --- biocompatibility --- inhibition of microbial biofilms development --- zinc --- hydroxyapatite --- ultrasound measurement --- sol–gel spin coating --- layers --- C. albicans --- S. aureus --- calcium phosphate --- magnesium phosphate --- struvite --- dolomite --- consolidating treatment --- cultural heritage --- ammonium phosphate --- marble --- calcite --- dissolution --- electrodeposition --- protective coatings --- acid attack --- potential --- current --- RF magnetron sputtering --- GLAD --- carbonated hydroxyapatite --- nanomaterials --- coatings --- cave painting --- inorganic consolidant --- ethyl silicate --- TEOS --- non-thermal plasma --- wettability --- bone --- allograft --- autograft --- xenograft --- ion-substituted calcium phosphates --- nanostructured coatings --- calcium phosphates --- ion-substituted apatites --- bone regeneration --- plasma-assisted deposition --- solubility --- crystallinity --- composition --- lithium-doped hydroxyapatite coatings --- renewable resources for implant coatings --- pulsed laser deposition --- biocompatibility --- inhibition of microbial biofilms development --- zinc --- hydroxyapatite --- ultrasound measurement --- sol–gel spin coating --- layers --- C. albicans --- S. aureus --- calcium phosphate --- magnesium phosphate --- struvite --- dolomite --- consolidating treatment --- cultural heritage --- ammonium phosphate --- marble --- calcite --- dissolution --- electrodeposition --- protective coatings --- acid attack --- potential --- current --- RF magnetron sputtering --- GLAD --- carbonated hydroxyapatite --- nanomaterials --- coatings --- cave painting --- inorganic consolidant --- ethyl silicate --- TEOS --- non-thermal plasma --- wettability --- bone --- allograft --- autograft --- xenograft --- ion-substituted calcium phosphates --- nanostructured coatings

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Biopolymers including natural (e.g., polysaccharides, proteins, gums, natural rubbers, bacterial polymers), synthetic (e.g., aliphatic polyesters and polyphosphoester), and biocomposites are of paramount interest in regenerative medicine, due to their availability, processability, and low toxicity. Moreover, the structuration of biopolymer-based materials at the nano- and microscale along with their chemical properties are crucial in the engineering of advanced carriers for drug products. Finally, combination products including or based on biopolymers for controlled drug release offer a powerful solution to improve the tissue integration and biological response of these materials. Understanding the drug delivery mechanisms, efficiency, and toxicity of such systems may be useful for regenerative medicine and pharmaceutical technology. The main aim of the Special Issue on “Biopolymers in Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine” is to gather recent findings and current advances on biopolymer research for biomedical applications, particularly in regenerative medicine, wound healing, and drug delivery. Contributions to this issue can be as original research or review articles and may cover all aspects of biopolymer research, ranging from the chemical synthesis and characterization of modified biopolymers, their processing in different morphologies and hierarchical structures, as well as their assessment for biomedical uses.

Medicine --- curcumin --- pectin aerogels --- chitosan coating --- burst release --- controlled release --- Keratose --- drug-coated balloon --- paclitaxel --- drug delivery --- pre-clinical --- peripheral arterial disease --- endovascular --- cellulose phosphate --- cellulose phosphate aerogel --- interconnected porosity --- supercritical carbon dioxide --- tetrabutylammonium fluoride --- TBAF/DMSO --- polysaccharide --- κ-carrageenan --- dexamethasone --- electrochemical active deliver system --- doping agent --- charged molecule --- conductive polymers --- colorectal cancer --- antioxidants --- 5-fluorouracil --- polymer nanomaterials --- nanocapsules --- chemotherapy --- cryogel --- starch --- NMR spectroscopy --- morphology --- drug release --- polysaccharides --- hydrogels --- prilling --- droplets --- ionotropic gelation --- drying --- xerogels --- cryogels --- aerogels --- lipid microparticles --- PGSS® --- supercritical CO2 --- modeling --- solvent-free technology --- biomaterials --- porous materials --- biomimetic --- multi-stimulation --- tissue engineering --- n/a

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Despite its limitation in terms of surface covered area, the PLD technique still gathers interest among researchers by offering endless possibilities for tuning thin film composition and enhancing their properties of interest due to: (i) the easiness of a stoichiometric transfer even for very complex target materials, (ii) high adherence of the deposited structures to the substrate, (iii) controlled degree of phase, crystallinity, and thickness of deposited coatings, (iv) versatility of the experimental set-up which allows for simultaneous ablation of multiple targets resulting in combinatorial maps or consecutive ablation of multiple targets producing multi-layered structures, and (v) adjustment of the number of laser pulses, resulting in either a spread of nanoparticles, islands of materials or a complete covering of a surface. Moreover, a variation of PLD, known as Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation, allows for deposition of organic materials, ranging from polymers to proteins and even living cells, otherwise difficult to transfer unaltered in the form of thin films by other techniques. Furthermore, the use of laser light as transfer agent ensures purity of films and pulse-to-pulse deposition allows for an unprecedented control of film thickness at the nm level. This Special Issue is a collection of state-of-the art research papers and reviews in which the topics of interest are devoted to thin film synthesis by PLD and MAPLE, for numerous research and industry field applications, such as bio-active coatings for medical implants and hard, protective coatings for cutting and drilling tools withstanding high friction and elevated temperatures, sensors, solar cells, lithography, magnetic devices, energy-storage and conversion devices, controlled drug delivery and in situ microstructuring for boosting of surface properties.

thin films --- matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation --- shellac --- enteric coatings --- PLD --- ITO --- nanoimprint lithography --- coatings --- nanostructure --- iron oxide --- pulsed laser deposition --- aluminum nitride --- nanoindentation testing --- TEM imaging --- FTIR spectroscopy --- ellipsometry --- complex refractive index --- composite coatings --- MAPLE --- Lactoferrin --- macrophage interactions --- animal-origin calcium phosphate coatings --- natural hydroxyapatite --- doping --- high adherence --- pulsed laser deposition technique --- biomimetic applications --- target preparation --- room temperature ferromagnetism --- dilute magnetic semiconductor --- Indium oxide --- (InFe)2O3 --- PLD films --- energy storage --- thin-film electrodes --- thin-film solid electrolyte --- lithium microbatteries --- calcium phosphate-based coatings --- synthetic and natural hydroxyapatite --- in vivo testing --- biomedical applications --- n/a