Biomaterials find extensive use in a wide array of medical applications, encompassing internal support, the replacement of biological tissues, joint and dental implants, orthopedic fixation devices, and stents. In these applications, these materials routinely encounter mechanical forces that involve tribological interactions. The durability and performance of these materials over time are chiefly influenced by their tribological qualities, which include wear resistance, lubrication, and frictional behavior. In the current context, there has been a proliferation of novel biomaterials, and extensive research has been conducted to understand their mechanical characteristics. Nevertheless, there exists a pressing need to delve deeper into their tribological behavior to ensure their suitability for medical applications.

The extant body of literature pertaining to the tribological evaluation of biomaterials under diverse operating conditions, including factors such as load, counter body characteristics, duration, and particularly lubrication media, remains conspicuously limited. Consequently, the principal objective of the present Research Topic is to expound upon recent advancements in the investigation of the tribological attributes exhibited by biomaterials, offering a platform for scholars to disseminate their most recent findings, comprehensive reviews, methodological innovations, and illustrative case studies in the specialized domain of "tribological behavior of biomaterials." Furthermore, this research initiative is designed to elucidate the current state of understanding concerning the wear characteristics of biomaterials, along with the intricate interplay among mechanical, microstructural, and tribological aspects inherent to biomaterials.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Microstructure, tribological, biological, corrosion, and mechanical properties of biomaterials
• Processing of various advanced biomaterials
• Development of wear-resistant biomaterials through post-processing routes (i.e., mechanical surface treatment, wear-resistant coatings, surface texturing, etc.)
• Tribological testing of biomaterials under different conditions (load, counter body, duration, and, more importantly, lubrication media)
• Tribo-informatics advances in tribology research of biomaterials (i.e., machine learning, deep learning, data-driven approaches)
• Wear mechanisms of biomaterials
• Functionality of biomaterials for tribological applications (self-lubrication, self-adaptive, self-healing, self-organized materials)

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Frontiers in Materials

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