Polymer-based bioactive composites are one of the most rapidly advancing areas in contemporary regenerative medicine. This review aims to identify major trends and knowledge gaps in the development of bioactive polymer composites and examine their translational relevance from a materials design perspective, with a specific focus on synthetic thermoplastic polymer matrices suitable for load-bearing bone scaffold applications and filament-based additive manufacturing. A total of 546 publications spanning 2016–2025 were screened, with 106 selected according to predefined relevance criteria. Bibliometric and content analyses were performed to delineate the primary research trajectories of bioactive composite materials. The results revealed that the majority of studies focused on composites comprising synthetic aliphatic polyesters, primarily polylactic acid (PLA) or polycaprolactone (PCL), reinforced with hydroxyapatite (HA) or bioactive glass (BG), which confer osteoconductivity but rarely achieve multifunctionality. Antimicrobial agents, ion-releasing components, and naturally derived bioactive molecules—associated with biointeractive functionalities and reported effects related to osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and immune modulation—are significantly underrepresented. Fewer than 20% of the investigated studies include in vivo validation, underscoring considerable scope for further preclinical and translational research. This work consolidates current trends in synthetic bioactive polymer composite design and identifies critical directions for future research. The findings of this review provide a structured framework to support the selection of composite fabrication and modification strategies, functional additives, and targeted biological functionalities for next-generation, load-bearing bone tissue engineering materials.

Background/Objectives: Implant-associated infections remain among the most severe and clinically challenging complications in contemporary orthopedics, largely due to the formation of persistent bacterial biofilms and the limited penetration of systemically administered antibiotics into the tissue–implant interface. In this context, local antibacterial functionalization of implantable materials represents a promising strategy for the prevention of early infectious complications. The objective of this study was to develop and comparatively evaluate the antimicrobial performance of PLA-based composites loaded with antibiotics from different pharmacological classes, with a view toward their potential application in individualized 3D-printed implants. Methods: Polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites incorporating gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and vancomycin were fabricated using thermal processing under conditions compatible with extrusion and fused filament fabrication. Physicochemical characterization (FTIR, TGA, SEM) was performed to assess the structure and morphology of the composites, and in vitro antibiotic release studies were conducted. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using an agar diffusion assay against ATCC reference strains and clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 10 per species). The antibacterial performance of the composites was evaluated in comparison with standard commercial antibiotic disks used as qualitative reference controls. Results: Antibiotic-loaded PLA composites exhibited consistent and reproducible antibacterial activity, markedly exceeding that of neat PLA. The broadest activity spectrum was observed for PLA–ciprofloxacin (≈29–36 mm) and PLA–gentamicin (≈25–27 mm), which effectively inhibited both Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical isolates, including MRSA and P. aeruginosa. PLA–vancomycin retained selective activity against staphylococci (≈14–15 mm), whereas PLA–doxycycline demonstrated limited efficacy against Gram-negative pathogens. Physicochemical analysis confirmed successful incorporation of antibiotics without detectable degradation of the polymer structure, while release studies demonstrated sustained antibiotic release from the composite materials. Importantly, the expected pharmacological activity profiles of the antibiotics were preserved after incorporation into the polymer matrix and subsequent high-temperature processing. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating clinically relevant antibiotics into a thermoplastic PLA matrix while preserving their selective antimicrobial activity following processing compatible with extrusion and additive manufacturing. The proposed PLA-based composites can be regarded as elements of a pharmacologically tunable antibacterial platform, offering a rationale for the development of context-dependent, biodegradable, 3D-printed implants for the local prevention of implant-associated infections in the setting of increasing antimicrobial resistance.

Background/Objectives: The development of multifunctional biomaterials for bone regeneration remains a key challenge in additive manufacturing. Although polylactic acid (PLA) is widely used in fused deposition modeling (FDM), its limited bioactivity and lack of intrinsic antibacterial functionality restrict its application in implantable constructs. This study aimed to develop a PLA-based composite filament combining ion-mediated bioactive potential and local antibacterial functionality using a Quality by Design (QbD) approach. Methods: PLA-based composite filaments incorporating a mollusk shell-derived biogenic calcium-containing filler (20 wt.%) and gentamicin (5 wt.%) were fabricated by solvent-free melt extrusion. A QbD framework was applied to define the Quality Target Product Profile (QTPP), identify critical quality attributes (CQAs), and assess critical material attributes (CMAs) and critical process parameters (CPPs). The material was characterized by SEM–EDS combined with ImageJ-based quantitative image analysis, TGA/DSC, mechanical testing, ICP-AES analysis of aqueous extracts, agar diffusion antibacterial assays, FDM printability assessment, and in vivo biocompatibility testing in a rat subcutaneous implantation model. Results: The developed PLA–Gen–MS material was obtained as a continuous filament with a diameter of 1.75 ± 0.05 mm and was successfully used for FDM printing of model scaffold structures. SEM–EDS confirmed matrix continuity and distribution of the calcium-containing mineral phase. ICP-AES revealed a calcium-dominant multicomponent ion release profile, with Ca as the predominant element and measurable levels of Sr, Mg, P, Mn, and Fe. TGA/DSC confirmed thermal compatibility of the components under melt-processing conditions. PLA–Gen–MS demonstrated antibacterial activity against all tested strains, with inhibition zones of approximately 20–21 mm. In vivo, the material showed a favorable preliminary tissue response compared with TiLOOP^®, including faster reduction of inflammatory infiltration and absence of foreign body giant cells by day 14. Conclusions: The QbD-guided strategy enabled the development of a multifunctional PLA-based filament integrating melt processability, structural integrity, ion-mediated bioactive potential, antibacterial functionality, printability, and favorable preliminary biocompatibility. PLA–Gen–MS can be considered a promising platform for further development of personalized bioactive and antibacterial scaffold constructs for bone regeneration.

Background: Topical semi-solid dosage forms are crucial for treating inflammatory skin disorders, wounds, burns, and superficial infections. Despite their widespread clinical use, comprehensive pharmaceutical market analyses of registered topical medicines remain limited in Central Asia. The aim of this study was to characterize the pharmaceutical market of topical semi-solid dosage forms registered in the Republic of Kazakhstan, including their dosage-form distribution, pharmacotherapeutic composition, manufacturer structure, and structural diversity of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), with particular attention to heterocyclic compounds. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was conducted using the State Register of Medicinal Products of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Registration records of topical semi-solid dosage forms were identified according to predefined inclusion criteria and classified by dosage form, pharmacotherapeutic category, manufacturer, country of origin, and API chemical structure. Descriptive statistical analysis, market concentration indices, and structural classification of heterocyclic compounds were applied. Therapeutic recommendations for dermatitis management from selected CIS countries were reviewed to provide a contextual interpretation of the observed market structure. Results: A total of 1046 registered topical semi-solid dosage forms met the inclusion criteria. Ointments (39.5%), gels (28.9%), and creams (25.4%) accounted for 93.8% of all registered products, indicating a highly concentrated dosage-form structure. Anti-inflammatory agents represented the largest pharmacotherapeutic group, whereas wound-healing and combination products accounted for smaller proportions of the market. Structural classification demonstrated broad representation of established heterocyclic chemical classes, while no registered medicinal products containing dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-thione (DHPM-thione) derivatives were identified in the registry. Comparison with regional clinical recommendations indicated differences between recommended therapeutic approaches and the distribution of registered pharmacotherapeutic categories. Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive descriptive assessment of the registered market of topical semi-solid dosage forms in Kazakhstan. The results establish a reference dataset describing the current pharmaceutical landscape, including dosage forms, therapeutic categories, manufacturers, and API chemical classes. The absence of registered DHPM-thione-containing medicinal products indicates that this chemical class is currently not represented in the national medicines registry. Together with previously published preclinical evidence, this observation supports consideration of DHPM-thione derivatives as a subject for future pharmaceutical research, although the present study does not permit conclusions regarding their clinical effectiveness, market demand, or future commercialization.