The American Chemical Society (ACS) has announced that Dr. David L. Kaplan will head the brand-new, web-only journal ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering as editor-in-chief. With the first issue slated for publication in January 2015, the new journal will feature high-quality research in the rapidly burgeoning field of biomaterials, the study of engineered or naturally derived materials that interact with living or biological systems.
Globally, the market for biomaterials is expected to reach $88 billion within the next three years, growing at a rate of 15 percent from 2012 to 2017. All of the major United States funding agencies have programs to support work on this topic and related research areas, totalling nearly $1 billion. In addition, two European Commission programs have allocated about $15.6 billion for biomaterials research between 2013 and 2017. Fuelled by increased research funding worldwide, the core biomaterials area has experienced a 52 percent growth in published content over the last five years.
Biomaterials research encompasses such diverse topics as using stem cells to build new tissues to treat disease and developing eco-friendly, biodegradable materials. Kaplan's own research focuses on biopolymer engineering, with an emphasis on biomaterials engineering, tissue engineering, molecular biology and regenerative medicine. The materials he studies include proteins, such as silks, collagens and elastins, with applications in stem cell technology and regenerative medicine.
A monthly publication, ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, will feature papers in areas such as: new and modified biomaterials, as well as bioinspired and biomimetic approaches to biomaterials; biomaterial interfaces for biology and health; manufacturing, technology and tissues in the context of biomaterials; and modeling and informatics tools. The publication will provide scientists from many disciplines with a publishing outlet for their work at the interface of biology and materials science and engineering.
Manuscript submission will open in September.
