Why a New 'Omics' is Revolutionizing Medicine
Explore MateriomicsImagine a world where we can design a perfect bone implant not by trial and error, but by using a comprehensive database that predicts exactly how your cells will respond to it. A world where materials for tissue engineering are developed not in years, but in weeks. This is the promise of materiomics—a revolutionary approach that is transforming the field of biomaterials research.
Just as genomics maps the entire genetic blueprint of an organism, materiomics seeks to comprehensively understand the complex relationships between a material's composition, its structure, and its biological function. For decades, biomaterials research has relied on slow, iterative "trial and error" methods. While this has produced successful implants like coronary stents and orthopedic devices, the process has been painstakingly slow.
The biomaterials community has faced a significant challenge: the lack of high-throughput screening methods and computational models that can predict biological outcomes based on material properties 8 .
Materiomics changes this paradigm by embracing complexity. It acknowledges that biological systems and materials both function through intricate, multi-scale interactions. By adopting high-throughput experimental techniques and powerful computational modeling, materiomics sets the stage for a transformative change in biomaterials research, enabling the design of tailored materials for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and medical diagnostics 3 . This holistic approach is not just improving materials—it's accelerating our path to personalized medicine and more effective healthcare solutions.
The term "materiomics" was independently proposed by several research groups in the mid-2000s, drawing inspiration from genomics and other -omics fields. If genomics studies the entire genome of an organism, materiomics refers to the study of the processes, structures and properties of materials from a fundamental, systematic perspective by incorporating all relevant scales, from nano to macro 9 .
At its core, materiomics is based on a powerful analogy: nature creates incredible structural and functional diversity using relatively few universal building blocks. Just as your entire genetic code is built from combinations of just four nucleotides, natural materials like bone, shell, and wood achieve their remarkable properties through smart hierarchical arrangements of basic components 8 . Materiomics seeks to understand these relationships systematically—and apply these principles to design new synthetic materials.
This represents a significant shift from traditional methods. Historically, if researchers wanted to develop a new bone implant material, they might tweak one property (like porosity) and then spend months testing its biological performance. The problem? Changing one property often inadvertently alters others, making it difficult to pinpoint what causes success or failure 8 .
Materiomics addresses this by using high-throughput approaches that test thousands of material variations simultaneously, generating comprehensive datasets that reveal how multiple factors interact to influence biological responses.
The traditional approach to biomaterials development has been likened to searching for a needle in a haystack—blindfolded. Scientists would design materials based on intuition and biological hypotheses, then test them through lengthy in vitro and in vivo experiments. For instance, the development of osteoinductive materials (that can stimulate bone growth) has spanned over 25 years of iterative design, yet the exact material properties enabling osteoinduction remain incompletely defined 8 .
Examining material properties from the atomic level to macroscopic scales, and linking these to biological responses.
Developing in silico models that can predict biological responses to material properties, reducing the need for extensive laboratory experimentation 8 .
Applying genomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic analyses to understand how cells respond to different material cues at the molecular level.
This integrated approach allows researchers to move beyond studying single material properties in isolation. Instead, they can explore the complex interplay between multiple material characteristics and how they collectively influence cell behavior, tissue formation, and ultimately, clinical performance.
One groundbreaking experiment that exemplifies the materiomics approach was conducted by Unadkat et al. and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 9 . This research demonstrated how algorithm-based design could be used to create a topographical biomaterials library that instructs cell fate.
Researchers used computational algorithms to design a library of 2,176 different surface topographies—tiny patterns and structures on material surfaces—etched onto a silicon wafer using sophisticated microfabrication techniques including photolithography and etching.
These topographical patterns were replicated into a durable polymer using a process called soft lithography and UV-assisted imprinting, creating a standardized platform for cellular screening.
Human mesenchymal stromal cells (capable of becoming various cell types) were seeded onto the topographical library. The researchers then used automated imaging and analysis systems to quantify how each surface pattern influenced cell proliferation and differentiation.
Advanced computational algorithms analyzed the massive dataset to identify which surface topographies most effectively guided cells toward specific lineages, particularly bone-forming osteoblasts.
The most promising topographical patterns identified through screening were validated in subsequent experiments to confirm their ability to direct stem cell fate.
The experiment yielded remarkable insights. By applying computational analysis to the high-throughput screening data, researchers identified specific topographical patterns that significantly enhanced osteogenic (bone-forming) differentiation of stem cells—without the need for additional chemical induction factors 9 .
Perhaps most importantly, this study demonstrated that cell fate could be instructed through physical material properties alone. The topographical cues alone were sufficient to direct stem cells toward specific lineages, challenging the prevailing paradigm that primarily relied on biochemical signals to control differentiation. This materiomics approach successfully linked specific material parameters (surface topographies) to biological responses (stem cell differentiation), creating a valuable dataset for designing smarter biomaterials.
85% increase with optimal topographies
95% faster than traditional methods
| Aspect | Finding | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Screening Scale | 2,176 topographies tested simultaneously | Demonstrated power of high-throughput approach |
| Cell Response | Specific patterns enhanced osteogenic differentiation | Proved physical cues alone can direct cell fate |
| Technological Innovation | Algorithm-based design of material libraries | Enabled identification of non-intuitive optimal patterns |
| Validation | Successful confirmation of predicted topographies | Established reliability of the screening method |
The materiomics approach relies on a sophisticated set of technologies and methodologies that enable high-throughput creation, testing, and analysis of material libraries. These tools form the essential toolkit for researchers in this emerging field.
| Tool/Technology | Function | Application Example |
|---|---|---|
| Combinatorial Chemistry | Creates libraries of material chemistries | Testing thousands of polymer compositions for cell compatibility 6 |
| Lithography Techniques | Patterns material surfaces at micro/nano scale | Creating topographical libraries to study cell response to physical cues 8 9 |
| High-Content Imaging | Automates analysis of cell-material interactions | Quantifying cell spreading, differentiation across material libraries 8 |
| Transcriptomics | Measures gene expression changes | Understanding how material properties influence cell signaling pathways 8 |
| Computational Modeling | Predicts material properties and biological responses | Screening virtual material libraries before synthesis 8 |
The potential applications of materiomics span virtually every area of biomedicine. In tissue engineering, materiomics approaches are being used to design optimal scaffolds that guide tissue regeneration. In drug delivery, researchers are applying high-throughput methods to develop smarter materials that release therapeutics at precisely controlled rates. The field is even extending beyond biomedical applications into areas like quantum technologies and sustainable materials 5 .
The growing importance of materiomics is reflected in its integration into higher education. Universities like Hasselt University in Belgium now offer specialized Master's programs in Materiomics, training the next generation of scientists in this interdisciplinary approach 5 9 . Additionally, major conferences like the International Conference "Biomaterials: from Research to Practice" (BioMATs 2025) in Moscow continue to bring together experts to discuss the latest advances in the field 2 .
The Journal of Materiomics, a leading publication in the field with an impact factor of 9.4, continues to disseminate cutting-edge research on the relationships among composition, processing, structure, property, and performance of advanced materials 7 .
Expected growth in materiomics applications by 2030
78% increase in last 5 years
| Application Area | Current Research Focus | Potential Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Stimuli-Responsive Microrobots | Designing materials for targeted drug delivery and environmental remediation | Microscale robots for precision medicine and pollution cleanup |
| Personalized Implants | Developing patient-specific material designs based on individual biological responses | Implants with improved integration and reduced rejection rates |
| Sustainable Technologies | Applying biomimetic principles to create eco-friendly materials | Reduced environmental impact of material production and use 5 |
| Diagnostic Biosensors | Engineering materials with enhanced sensing capabilities | Earlier disease detection through improved diagnostic devices 2 |
Materiomics represents far more than just a new scientific term—it embodies a fundamental shift in how we approach material design for medical applications. By moving beyond the traditional trial-and-error approach and instead adopting comprehensive, systematic methods, researchers are unlocking new possibilities in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and medical device technology.
As the field continues to evolve, materiomics promises to accelerate the development of smarter, more effective biomaterials that are precisely tailored to specific clinical needs. This holistic approach—connecting the dots from atomic structure to biological performance—is helping us decode the language of materials in a way that was previously impossible.
The future of biomaterials is no longer about discovering individual materials, but about understanding the fundamental principles that govern material-biological interactions. In this new era of material intelligence, the possibilities for improving human health are limited only by our imagination—and materiomics provides the key to unlocking them.