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Polymers
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Advances in Surface Functionalization of Polymer Nanostructures
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Advances in Surface Functionalization of Polymer Nanostructures

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Processing and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 June 2023) | Viewed by 22811

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Cristina Neves

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Engineering and Ceramics, CICECO Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: nanostructures; nanomaterials; functional fillers; compatibility; nanocomposites; additives
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer surface modification consists in modifying the surface of a material by giving different characteristics from the ones originally found on its surface. Controlling the surface chemical composition of nanostuctures can confer them with stability, compatibility, and functionality, enabling their use in a wide range of applications. A variety of methods are available for particle surface modification. Among them are physical absorption and chemical binding. Nanoparticles and nanostructures have been widely functionalized with diverse materials such as synthetic polymers and biopolymers. The surface modification can alter a range of characteristics on the surface, such as roughness, hydrophobicity, surface charge, biocompatibility, and reactivity.

The aim of this Special Issue is to update recent developments regarding the surface functionalization of polymer nanostructures, especially new strategies to improve their stability and compatibility within other materials as well as tuning their functionality for specific applications.

Dr. Cristina Neves
Guest Editor

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 special issue 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. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • surface functionalization of polymers
  • polymer nanostructures
  • polymer nanoparticles
  • stability
  • compatibility
  • target functionality
  • polymer nanomaterials

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 5236 KiB  
Article
Radiation-Induced Graft Immobilization (RIGI): Covalent Binding of Non-Vinyl Compounds on Polymer Membranes
by Martin Schmidt, Stefan Zahn, Florian Gehlhaar, Andrea Prager, Jan Griebel, Axel Kahnt, Wolfgang Knolle, Robert Konieczny, Roger Gläser and Agnes Schulze
Polymers 2021, 13(11), 1849; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13111849 - 2 Jun 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3572
Abstract
Radiation-induced graft immobilization (RIGI) is a novel method for the covalent binding of substances on polymeric materials without the use of additional chemicals. In contrast to the well-known radiation-induced graft polymerization (RIGP), RIGI can use non-vinyl compounds such as small and large functional [...] Read more.
Radiation-induced graft immobilization (RIGI) is a novel method for the covalent binding of substances on polymeric materials without the use of additional chemicals. In contrast to the well-known radiation-induced graft polymerization (RIGP), RIGI can use non-vinyl compounds such as small and large functional molecules, hydrophilic polymers, or even enzymes. In a one-step electron-beam-based process, immobilization can be performed in a clean, fast, and continuous operation mode, as required for industrial applications. This study proposes a reaction mechanism using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and two small model molecules, glycine and taurine, in aqueous solution. Covalent coupling of single molecules is achieved by radical recombination and alkene addition reactions, with water radiolysis playing a crucial role in the formation of reactive solute species. Hydroxyl radicals contribute mainly to the immobilization, while solvated electrons and hydrogen radicals play a minor role. Release of fluoride is mainly induced by direct ionization of the polymer and supported by water. Hydrophobic chains attached to cations appear to enhance the covalent attachment of solutes to the polymer surface. Computational work is complemented by experimental studies, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and fluoride high-performance ion chromatography (HPIC). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Surface Functionalization of Polymer Nanostructures)
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Review

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42 pages, 9634 KiB  
Review
Advances in Functionalized Photosensitive Polymeric Nanocarriers
by Maritza Fernández and Jahir Orozco
Polymers 2021, 13(15), 2464; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13152464 - 27 Jul 2021
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5721
Abstract
The synthesis of light-responsive nanocarriers (LRNs) with a variety of surface functional groups and/or ligands has been intensively explored for space-temporal controlled cargo release. LRNs have been designed on demand for photodynamic-, photothermal-, chemo-, and radiotherapy, protected delivery of bioactive molecules, such as [...] Read more.
The synthesis of light-responsive nanocarriers (LRNs) with a variety of surface functional groups and/or ligands has been intensively explored for space-temporal controlled cargo release. LRNs have been designed on demand for photodynamic-, photothermal-, chemo-, and radiotherapy, protected delivery of bioactive molecules, such as smart drug delivery systems and for theranostic duties. LRNs trigger the release of cargo by a light stimulus. The idea of modifying LRNs with different moieties and ligands search for site-specific cargo delivery imparting stealth effects and/or eliciting specific cellular interactions to improve the nanosystems’ safety and efficacy. This work reviews photoresponsive polymeric nanocarriers and photo-stimulation mechanisms, surface chemistry to link ligands and characterization of the resultant nanosystems. It summarizes the interesting biomedical applications of functionalized photo-controlled nanocarriers, highlighting the current challenges and opportunities of such high-performance photo-triggered delivery systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Surface Functionalization of Polymer Nanostructures)
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28 pages, 6991 KiB  
Review
Is Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) a Suitable Substrate for ALD?: A Review
by Marta Adriana Forte, Ricardo Manuel Silva, Carlos José Tavares and Rui Ferreira e Silva
Polymers 2021, 13(8), 1346; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13081346 - 20 Apr 2021
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 12319
Abstract
Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a thermoplastic synthetic polymer, which displays superior characteristics such as transparency, good tensile strength, and processability. Its performance can be improved by surface engineering via the use of functionalized thin film coatings, resulting in its versatility across a [...] Read more.
Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a thermoplastic synthetic polymer, which displays superior characteristics such as transparency, good tensile strength, and processability. Its performance can be improved by surface engineering via the use of functionalized thin film coatings, resulting in its versatility across a host of applications including, energy harvesting, dielectric layers and water purification. Modification of the PMMA surface can be achieved by atomic layer deposition (ALD), a vapor-phase, chemical deposition technique, which permits atomic-level control. However, PMMA presents a challenge for ALD due to its lack of active surface sites, necessary for gas precursor reaction, nucleation, and subsequent growth. The purpose of this review is to discuss the research related to the employment of PMMA as either a substrate, support, or masking layer over a range of ALD thin film growth techniques, namely, thermal, plasma-enhanced, and area-selective atomic layer deposition. It also highlights applications in the selected fields of flexible electronics, biomaterials, sensing, and photocatalysis, and underscores relevant characterization techniques. Further, it concludes with a prospective view of the role of ALD in PMMA processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Surface Functionalization of Polymer Nanostructures)
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