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State-of-the-Art Macromolecules in Spain
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State-of-the-Art Macromolecules in Spain (Closed)

A topical collection in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This collection belongs to the section "Macromolecules".

Viewed by 36626

Editors

Prof. Dr. Ana María Díez-Pascual

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Interests: nanomaterials; polymers; nanocomposites; inorganic nanoparticles; antibacterial agents; surfactants; interphases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ángel Serrano-Aroca

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Biomaterials and Bioengineering Lab, Centro de Investigación Traslacional San Alberto Magno, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, c/Guillem de Castro 94, 46001 Valencia, Spain
Interests: polymers; nanomaterials; nanocomposites; biomaterials; antimicrobial materials; regenerative medicine; tissue engineering; biomedical engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

The area of macromolecular science embodies a continuing and multidisciplinary research field in Spain comprising physicists, chemists and engineers, whose objective is the scientific and technological advancement of macromolecular materials through research and development. Over the last few years, macromolecules have substituted other materials in established applications and have played a major role in the development of the technologies needed to address some 21st century challenges in the areas of energy, health care and sustainability. Many well-known research teams in Spain from different institutions and universities are working on the design, synthesis, assembly and processing of macromolecules that will enable them to address these challenges. They are developing novel polymerization platforms involving directed self-assembly, externally applied stimuli, structure–function correlation and applied engineering principles that generate functional soft materials addressing needs at the interface of chemistry, biology, and materials science. These innovative materials are highly suitable for technologies in regenerative medicine, biological interfacing, catalytic, electronic and optical applications and so forth.

This Topical Collection is devoted to offering an overview of the research on the macromolecular field in Spain. It seeks to compile original articles, review articles and state-of-the-art research papers.

Prof. Dr. Ana María Díez-Pascual
Dr. Ángel Serrano-Aroca
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • macromolecular materials
  • macromolecular engineering
  • polymeric materials
  • blends
  • additives
  • surfaces
  • composites
  • processing
  • electrospinning

Published Papers (8 papers)

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2023

Jump to: 2022

17 pages, 3496 KiB  
Article
Core-Shell Magnetic Imprinted Polymers for the Recognition of FLAG-Tagpeptide
by Elsa Lafuente-González, Miriam Guadaño-Sánchez, Idoia Urriza-Arsuaga and Javier Lucas Urraca
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3453; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043453 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1773
Abstract
FLAG® tag (DYKDDDDK) is a small epitope peptide employed for the purification of recombinant proteins such as immunoglobulins, cytokines, and gene regulatory proteins. It provides superior purity and recoveries of fused target proteins when compared to the commonly used His-tag. Nevertheless, the [...] Read more.
FLAG® tag (DYKDDDDK) is a small epitope peptide employed for the purification of recombinant proteins such as immunoglobulins, cytokines, and gene regulatory proteins. It provides superior purity and recoveries of fused target proteins when compared to the commonly used His-tag. Nevertheless, the immunoaffinity-based adsorbents required for their isolation are far more expensive than the ligand-based affinity resin used in combination with the His-tag. In order to overcome this limitation we report herein the development of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) selective to the FLAG® tag. The polymers were prepared by the epitope imprinting approach using a four amino acids peptide, DYKD, including part of the FLAG® sequence as template molecule. Different kinds of magnetic polymers were synthesised in aqueous and organic media also using different sizes of magnetite core nanoparticles. The synthesised polymers were used as solid phase extraction materials with excellent recoveries and high specificity for both peptides. The magnetic properties of the polymers confer a new, effective, simple, and fast method in the purification using FLAG® tag. Full article
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10 pages, 1546 KiB  
Article
New Insights in the Synthesis of High-Molecular-Weight Aromatic Polyamides-Improved Synthesis of Rod-like PPTA
by Guiomar Hernández, Sergio Ferrero, Helmut Reinecke, Camino Bartolomé, Jesús M. Martinez-Ilarduya, Cristina Álvarez and Ángel E. Lozano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2734; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032734 - 1 Feb 2023
Viewed by 2593
Abstract
By employing a variation of the polyamidation method using in situ silylated diamines and acid chlorides, it was possible to obtain a rod-type polyamide: poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA, a polymer used in the high-value-added material Kevlar), with a molecular weight much higher [...] Read more.
By employing a variation of the polyamidation method using in situ silylated diamines and acid chlorides, it was possible to obtain a rod-type polyamide: poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA, a polymer used in the high-value-added material Kevlar), with a molecular weight much higher than that obtained with the classical and industrial polyamidation method. The optimization of the method has consisted of using, together with the silylating agent, a mixture of pyridine and a high-pKa tertiary amine. The research was complemented by a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular simulation studies, which determined that the improvements in molecular weight derive mainly from the formation of silylamide groups in the growing polymer. Full article
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25 pages, 9326 KiB  
Review
Current Trends in Molecular Imprinting: Strategies, Applications and Determination of Target Molecules in Spain
by Idoia Urriza-Arsuaga, Miriam Guadaño-Sánchez and Javier Lucas Urraca
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24031915 - 18 Jan 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2597
Abstract
Over the last decades, an increasing demand for new specific molecular recognition elements has emerged in order to improve analytical methods that have already been developed in order to reach the detection/quantification limits of target molecules. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have molecular recognition [...] Read more.
Over the last decades, an increasing demand for new specific molecular recognition elements has emerged in order to improve analytical methods that have already been developed in order to reach the detection/quantification limits of target molecules. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have molecular recognition abilities provided by the presence of a template molecule during their synthesis, and they are excellent materials with high selectivity for sample preparation. These synthetic polymers are relatively easy to prepare, and they can also be an excellent choice in the substitution of antibodies or enzymes in different kinds of assays. They have been properly applied to the development of chromatographic or solid-phase extraction methods and have also been successfully applied as electrochemical, piezoelectrical, and optical sensors, as well as in the catalysis process. Nevertheless, new formats of polymerization can also provide new applications for these materials. This paper provides a comprehensive comparison of the new challenges in molecular imprinting as materials of the future in Spain. Full article
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2022

Jump to: 2023

37 pages, 9067 KiB  
Review
Machine Learning for Property Prediction and Optimization of Polymeric Nanocomposites: A State-of-the-Art
by Elizabeth Champa-Bujaico, Pilar García-Díaz and Ana M. Díez-Pascual
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10712; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810712 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5062
Abstract
Recently, the field of polymer nanocomposites has been an area of high scientific and industrial attention due to noteworthy improvements attained in these materials, arising from the synergetic combination of properties of a polymeric matrix and an organic or inorganic nanomaterial. The enhanced [...] Read more.
Recently, the field of polymer nanocomposites has been an area of high scientific and industrial attention due to noteworthy improvements attained in these materials, arising from the synergetic combination of properties of a polymeric matrix and an organic or inorganic nanomaterial. The enhanced performance of those materials typically involves superior mechanical strength, toughness and stiffness, electrical and thermal conductivity, better flame retardancy and a higher barrier to moisture and gases. Nanocomposites can also display unique design possibilities, which provide exceptional advantages in developing multifunctional materials with desired properties for specific applications. On the other hand, machine learning (ML) has been recognized as a powerful predictive tool for data-driven multi-physical modelling, leading to unprecedented insights and an exploration of the system’s properties beyond the capability of traditional computational and experimental analyses. This article aims to provide a brief overview of the most important findings related to the application of ML for the rational design of polymeric nanocomposites. Prediction, optimization, feature identification and uncertainty quantification are presented along with different ML algorithms used in the field of polymeric nanocomposites for property prediction, and selected examples are discussed. Finally, conclusions and future perspectives are highlighted. Full article
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22 pages, 3702 KiB  
Article
Effect of the TrFE Content on the Crystallization and SSA Thermal Fractionation of P(VDF-co-TrFE) Copolymers
by Nicolás María, Florian Le Goupil, Dario Cavallo, Jon Maiz and Alejandro J. Müller
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10365; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810365 - 8 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2054
Abstract
In this contribution, we study the effect of trifluoro ethylene (TrFE) comonomer content (samples with 80/20, 75/25, and 70/30 VDF/TrFE molar ratios were used) on the crystallization in P(VDF-co-TrFE) in comparison with a PVDF (Poly(vinylidene fluoride)) homopolymer. Employing Polarized Light Optical [...] Read more.
In this contribution, we study the effect of trifluoro ethylene (TrFE) comonomer content (samples with 80/20, 75/25, and 70/30 VDF/TrFE molar ratios were used) on the crystallization in P(VDF-co-TrFE) in comparison with a PVDF (Poly(vinylidene fluoride)) homopolymer. Employing Polarized Light Optical Microscopy (PLOM), the growth rates of spherulites or axialites were determined. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine overall crystallization rates, self-nucleation, and Successive Self-nucleation and Annealing (SSA) thermal fractionation. The ferroelectric character of the samples was explored by polarization measurements. The results indicate that TrFE inclusion can limit the overall crystallization of the copolymer samples, especially for the ones with 20 and 25% TrFE. Self-nucleation measurements in PVDF indicate that the homopolymer can be self-nucleated, exhibiting the classic three Domains. However, the increased nucleation capacity in the copolymers provokes the absence of the self-nucleation Domain II. The PVDF displays a monomodal distribution of thermal fractions after SSA, but the P(VDF-co-TrFE) copolymers do not experience thermal fractionation, apparently due to TrFE incorporation in the PVDF crystals. Finally, the maximum and remnant polarization increases with increasing TrFE content up to a maximum of 25% TrFE content, after which it starts to decrease due to the lower dipole moment of the TrFE defect inclusion within the PVDF crystals. Full article
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14 pages, 6896 KiB  
Review
Antiviral Characterization of Advanced Materials: Use of Bacteriophage Phi 6 as Surrogate of Enveloped Viruses Such as SARS-CoV-2
by Ángel Serrano-Aroca
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(10), 5335; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105335 - 10 May 2022
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4254
Abstract
The bacteriophage phi 6 is a virus that belongs to a different Baltimore group than SARS-CoV-2 (group III instead of IV). However, it has a round-like shape and a lipid envelope like SARS-CoV-2, which render it very useful to be used as a [...] Read more.
The bacteriophage phi 6 is a virus that belongs to a different Baltimore group than SARS-CoV-2 (group III instead of IV). However, it has a round-like shape and a lipid envelope like SARS-CoV-2, which render it very useful to be used as a surrogate of this infectious pathogen for biosafety reasons. Thus, recent antiviral studies have demonstrated that antiviral materials such as calcium alginate hydrogels, polyester-based fabrics coated with benzalkonium chloride (BAK), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) coated with BAK and polyester-based fabrics coated with cranberry extracts or solidified hand soap produce similar log reductions in viral titers of both types of enveloped viruses after similar viral contact times. Therefore, researchers with no access to biosafety level 3 facilities can perform antiviral tests of a broad range of biomaterials, composites, nanomaterials, nanocomposites, coatings and compounds against the bacteriophage phi 6 as a biosafe viral model of SARS-CoV-2. In fact, this bacteriophage has been used as a surrogate of SARS-CoV-2 to test a broad range of antiviral materials and compounds of different chemical natures (polymers, metals, alloys, ceramics, composites, etc.) and forms (films, coatings, nanomaterials, extracts, porous supports produced by additive manufacturing, etc.) during the current pandemic. Furthermore, this biosafe viral model has also been used as a surrogate of SARS-CoV-2 and other highly pathogenic enveloped viruses such as Ebola and influenza in a wide range of biotechnological applications. Full article
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Graphical abstract

17 pages, 5046 KiB  
Review
The Final Frontier of Sustainable Materials: Current Developments in Self-Healing Elastomers
by Saul Utrera-Barrios, Raquel Verdejo, Miguel Ángel López-Manchado and Marianella Hernández Santana
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4757; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094757 - 26 Apr 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3743
Abstract
It is impossible to describe the recent progress of our society without considering the role of polymers; however, for a broad audience, “polymer” is usually related to environmental pollution. The poor disposal and management of polymeric waste has led to an [...] Read more.
It is impossible to describe the recent progress of our society without considering the role of polymers; however, for a broad audience, “polymer” is usually related to environmental pollution. The poor disposal and management of polymeric waste has led to an important environmental crisis, and, within polymers, plastics have attracted bad press despite being easily reprocessable. Nonetheless, there is a group of polymeric materials that is particularly more complex to reprocess, rubbers. These macromolecules are formed by irreversible crosslinked networks that give them their characteristic elastic behavior, but at the same time avoid their reprocessing. Conferring them a self-healing capacity stands out as a decisive approach for overcoming this limitation. By this mean, rubbers would be able to repair or restore their damage automatically, autonomously, or by applying an external stimulus, increasing their lifetime, and making them compatible with the circular economy model. Spain is a reference country in the implementation of this strategy in rubbery materials, achieving successful self-healable elastomers with high healing efficiency and outstanding mechanical performance. This article presents an exhaustive summary of the developments reported in the previous 10 years, which demonstrates that this property is the last frontier in search of truly sustainable materials. Full article
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45 pages, 3953 KiB  
Review
Alginate: Enhancement Strategies for Advanced Applications
by Alejandro Hurtado, Alaa A. A. Aljabali, Vijay Mishra, Murtaza M. Tambuwala and Ángel Serrano-Aroca
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4486; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094486 - 19 Apr 2022
Cited by 77 | Viewed by 13690
Abstract
Alginate is an excellent biodegradable and renewable material that is already used for a broad range of industrial applications, including advanced fields, such as biomedicine and bioengineering, due to its excellent biodegradable and biocompatible properties. This biopolymer can be produced from brown algae [...] Read more.
Alginate is an excellent biodegradable and renewable material that is already used for a broad range of industrial applications, including advanced fields, such as biomedicine and bioengineering, due to its excellent biodegradable and biocompatible properties. This biopolymer can be produced from brown algae or a microorganism culture. This review presents the principles, chemical structures, gelation properties, chemical interactions, production, sterilization, purification, types, and alginate-based hydrogels developed so far. We present all of the advanced strategies used to remarkably enhance this biopolymer’s physicochemical and biological characteristics in various forms, such as injectable gels, fibers, films, hydrogels, and scaffolds. Thus, we present here all of the material engineering enhancement approaches achieved so far in this biopolymer in terms of mechanical reinforcement, thermal and electrical performance, wettability, water sorption and diffusion, antimicrobial activity, in vivo and in vitro biological behavior, including toxicity, cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, immunological response, biodegradation, porosity, and its use as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. These improvements to overcome the drawbacks of the alginate biopolymer could exponentially increase the significant number of alginate applications that go from the paper industry to the bioprinting of organs. Full article
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