Advanced Metamaterials invites articles on highly novel metamaterials whose unique mechanical, acoustic, and electromagnetic properties have been leveraged and incorporated into next-generation medical devices, from architected implants and artificial bone to bio-integrated sensors, diagnostics, and therapeutic tools.

This topical collection highlights how metamaterials are reshaping medical devices and healthcare technology, through engineered composites with tailored mechanical, acoustic, or electromagnetic responses that enable new functions in implants, prosthetics, and therapeutic tools. Examples include metamaterial scaffolds with tunable stiffness for bone tissue engineering, and shape-memory, 4D-printed architectures for self-deploying implants and stents. Others include acoustic metasurfaces and metalenses for ultrasound imaging and therapy, and miniature metamaterial antennas and sensors for implantable monitoring. We welcome contributions that integrate metamaterial structures into medical instruments, stents, and drug delivery systems to improve diagnostics and treatment outcomes.

The collection invites original research and review articles on metamaterial applications in medical device design. Expected contributions include the design and characterization of metamaterial-based implants, scaffolds, and sensors; computational modeling and AI-assisted inverse design of their mechanical or electromagnetic performance in biological environments; and prototype demonstrations such as metamaterial-enhanced ultrasound transducers or smart stents. Manuscripts may also cover additive and 4D manufacturing, fabrication methods, biocompatibility studies, and integration with biomedical systems, as well as challenges such as durability, safety, and manufacturability.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Mechanical and auxetic metamaterial scaffolds and implants for bone, cartilage, and tissue engineering
• Metamaterial-enhanced stents, catheters, and cardiovascular devices
• Acoustic and photonic metamaterials for medical imaging and therapy, including focused-ultrasound metalenses and acoustic holograms (e.g., for non-invasive neuromodulation)
• Wearable, implantable, and self-powered (electronic-free) metamaterial sensors for physiological monitoring and diagnostics
• Metamaterial structures for drug delivery systems and bio-integrated devices
• Microphysiological systems enhanced through metamaterials, including organ-on-chip platforms and extracellular-matrix-mimicking scaffolds
• Additive and 4D manufacturing, shape-memory architectures, and AI-assisted inverse design of architected biomaterials and intelligent implants

This collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Advanced Metamaterials invites articles on new metamaterials which offer unique opportunities in biomedical sensing, such as surfaces which can control, enhance and focus electromagnetic radiation for the betterment of sensing.

This topical collection explores novel metamaterial structures engineered for advanced sensing applications. It highlights surfaces and composites that manipulate electromagnetic and acoustic fields – such as plasmonic metasurfaces, resonant cavities, and hyperbolic metamaterials – to enhance signal detection in biological, chemical, and environmental contexts. Emphasis will be placed on breakthroughs in sensitivity, selectivity, label-free detection, and multifunctional sensor integration, including flexible and wearable platforms for on-site analysis. Contributions on interdisciplinary approaches, such as combining metamaterials with nanotechnology or data analytics for enhanced performance, are also encouraged.

We invite original research and reviews on metamaterial-enabled sensing technologies. Expected contributions include new designs of plasmonic, dielectric, and acoustic metamaterial sensors, theoretical and experimental studies of unique sensing mechanisms, and demonstrations of high-sensitivity biosensing or chemical detection. Manuscripts may cover device fabrication methods, signal processing techniques, and integration of metamaterials with lab-on-a-chip systems. Critical evaluations of sensor performance, including bandwidth limitations, loss reduction, and scalable fabrication, are also welcome.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Plasmonic and dielectric metamaterial biosensors for disease and biomolecule detection
• Metasurfaces and micro-structured sensors for environmental and chemical monitoring
• Terahertz, infrared, and acoustic metamaterial designs for enhanced spectroscopy and sensing
• Reconfigurable or tuneable metamaterial sensors integrated into lab-on-a-chip and wearable devices
• Nanostructured metamaterial surfaces for label-free sensing and improved signal-to-noise ratio

This collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).