Polymer Thin Films and Their Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 4276

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Seminaryjna 3, 85-326 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: natural polymers; biodegradable polymers; thin films; three dimensional scaffolds; polymers crosslinking; food packaging materials; tissue engineering; biomaterials properties; biopolymers; chitosan; collagen; PLA; silk fibroin
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers are now an important part of every industry (tissue engineering, food packaging, nanotechnology, chemistry, biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, etc.). However, their main application is related to tissue engineering in biomedical science and packaging applications. In these two fields, scientists are particularly interested in biodegradable polymers because they are harmless to the environment.

In this Special Issue, studies focusing on polymer thin films and synthesis, analysis, and physico-chemical trends in polymers are welcome to be submitted. This Special Issue aims to collect novel studies related to thin films dedicated to various applications. It is important to consider different methods to improve the properties of polymer films. Research areas may include, but not limited to, the following:

  • Thin films preparation and characterization;
  • Biodegradable polymer films for biomedical and packaging applications;
  • Two-dimensional materials preparation from different raw compounds;
  • The preparation and characterization of coatings on different types of surfaces;
  • Physicochemical properties of thin films made of polymers;
  • Biological studies (in vitro and in vivo) of thin films;
  • Microbiological activity studies of thin films as wound dressings, packages, and other applications. 

Dr. Sylwia Grabska-Zielińska
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • thin films
  • polymers
  • biodegradable polymers
  • biodegradable composites
  • physico-chemical characterization of thin films
  • physical and chemical modification of polymer-based films
  • biomedical applications
  • packaging applications
  • chemistry applications
  • biotechnology applications
  • wound dressing
  • polymer coatings

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2495 KiB  
Article
Synthesis Characterization and Physicochemical Properties of Rigid Alicyclic Polyimide Films Based on Bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic Dianhydride
by José Manuel Pérez-Francisco, Carla Aguilar-Lugo, Larissa Alexandrova, María O. Gonzalez-Diaz, Rita Sulub-Sulub, María Isabel Loría-Bastarrachea and Manuel Aguilar-Vega
Polymers 2024, 16(22), 3188; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16223188 - 16 Nov 2024
Viewed by 395
Abstract
Four polyimides based on bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTD), BTD-MIMA, BTD-HFA, BTD-FND, and BTD-TPM, with different rigid substituted diamines were synthesized. The chemical structure of the polyimides was corroborated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. These polyimides were soluble in organic solvents and presented molecular [...] Read more.
Four polyimides based on bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTD), BTD-MIMA, BTD-HFA, BTD-FND, and BTD-TPM, with different rigid substituted diamines were synthesized. The chemical structure of the polyimides was corroborated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. These polyimides were soluble in organic solvents and presented molecular weights (Mn) between 39 and 70 KDa. BTD-MIMA, BTD-HFA, BTD-FND, and BTD-TPM showed thermal stability above 400 °C. These polyimides also presented high glass transition temperatures between 272 and 355 °C. The alicyclic moiety increased solubility compared with other rigid polyimides. Membrane films from BTD-MIMA and BTD-HFA exhibited the highest gas permeability compared to BTD-FND and BTD-TPM. The introduction of ortho-substituents in BTD-MIMA or bulky –CF3 groups in BTD-HFA, in combination with the alicyclic dianhydride fragment, prevented chain packing and enhanced macromolecular chain rigidity. In turn, there was a shift toward higher gas permeability coefficients for BTD-MIMA and BTD-HFA, with a moderate loss of CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity, and they presented similar selectivities to those of other reported polyimides with alicyclic BTD moieties containing asymmetric fragments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films and Their Applications)
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18 pages, 3919 KiB  
Article
Sublingual Fast-Dissolving Thin Films of Loratadine: Characterization, In Vitro and Ex Vivo Evaluation
by Yahya Alhamhoom, Ashitha Kakarlapudi Said, Avichal Kumar, Shivakumar Hagalavadi Nanjappa, Divya Wali, Mohamed Rahamathulla, Syeda Ayesha Farhana, Mohammed Muqtader Ahmed and Thippeswamy Boreddy Shivanandappa
Polymers 2024, 16(20), 2919; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202919 - 17 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1085
Abstract
Loratadine (LOR) is a second-generation antihistamine that exhibits a low and variable oral bioavailability (10–40%) and delayed onset owing to poor solubility and an extensive first-pass effect. Therefore, in light of the clinical need, the main goal of the present study was to [...] Read more.
Loratadine (LOR) is a second-generation antihistamine that exhibits a low and variable oral bioavailability (10–40%) and delayed onset owing to poor solubility and an extensive first-pass effect. Therefore, in light of the clinical need, the main goal of the present study was to develop sublingual fast-dissolving thin films of LOR–citric acid co-amorphous systems (LOR-CAs) with the aim of eliciting a faster onset and improving the bioavailability. We formulated sublingual fast-dissolving thin films of LOR by a film-casting technique using hydrophilic polymers like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC E15), polyvinyl pyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30), and hydroxypropyl cellulose EL (HPC-EF) and citric acid as a pH modulator, while glycerin served as a plasticizer. The sublingual fast-dissolving thin films were characterized by FTIR, SEM, DSC, and XRD and evaluated for in vitro dissolution and ex vivo mucoadhesion. The best formulation (F1) developed using HPMC E15 as a polymer, glycerin as a plasticizer, and citric acid as a pH modulator was found to be the optimized formulation as it was smooth, clear, flexible, and displayed good mucoadhesion (11.27 ± 0.418 gm/cm2) and uniform thickness (0.25 ± 0.02 mm). The formulation F1 was found to display a significantly shorter DT (30.30 ± 0.6 s) and rapid release of LOR (92.10 ± 2.3% in 60 min) compared to other formulations (ANOVA, p < 0.001). The results indicated that the prepared sublingual films are likely to elicit a faster therapeutic effect, avoid first-pass metabolism, and improve the bioavailability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films and Their Applications)
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14 pages, 7783 KiB  
Article
Laser Sintering by Spot and Linear Optics for Inkjet-Printed Thin-Film Conductive Silver Patterns with the Focus on Ink-Sets and Process Parameters
by Dana Mitra, Kalyan Yoti Mitra, Georg Buchecker, Alexander Görk, Maxim Mousto, Thomas Franzl and Ralf Zichner
Polymers 2024, 16(20), 2896; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16202896 - 14 Oct 2024
Viewed by 747
Abstract
The implementation of the laser sintering for inkjet-printed nanoparticles and metal organic decomposition (MOD) inks on a flexible polymeric film has been analyzed in detail. A novel approach by implementing, next to a commonly 3.2 mm diameter spot laser optic, a line laser [...] Read more.
The implementation of the laser sintering for inkjet-printed nanoparticles and metal organic decomposition (MOD) inks on a flexible polymeric film has been analyzed in detail. A novel approach by implementing, next to a commonly 3.2 mm diameter spot laser optic, a line laser optic with a laser beam area of 2 mm × 80 mm, demonstrates the high potential of selective laser sintering to proceed towards a fast and efficient sintering methodology in printed electronics. In this work, a multiplicity of laser parameters, primary the laser speed and the laser power, have been altered systematically to identify an optimal process window for each ink and to convert the dried and non-conductive patterns into conductive and functional silver structures. For each ink, as well as for the two laser optics, a suitable laser parameter set has been found, where a conductivity without any damage to the substrate or silver layer could be achieved. In doing so, the margin of the laser speed for both optics is ranging in between 50 mm/s and 100 mm/s, which is compatible with common inkjet printing speeds and facilitates an in-line laser sintering approach. Considering the laser power, the typical parameter range for the spot laser lays in between 10 W and 50 W, whereas for the line optics the full laser power of 200 W had to be applied. One of the nanoparticle silver inks exhibits, especially for the line laser optic, a conductivity of up to 2.22 × 107 S‧m−1, corresponding to 36% of bulk silver within a few seconds of sintering duration. Both laser sintering approaches together present a remarkable facility to use the laser either as a digital tool for sintering of defined areas by means of a spot beam or to efficiently sinter larger areas by means of a line beam. With this, the utilization of a laser sintering methodology was successfully validated as a promising approach for converting a variety of inkjet-printed silver patterns on a flexible polymeric substrate into functionalized conductive silver layers for applications in the field of printed electronics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films and Their Applications)
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22 pages, 12585 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Atomic Oxygen-Resistant, Optically Transparent and Dimensionally Stable Copolyimide Films from Fluorinated Monomers and POSS-Substituted Diamine
by Zhenzhong Wang, Xiaolei Wang, Shunqi Yuan, Xi Ren, Changxu Yang, Shujun Han, Yuexin Qi, Duanyi Li and Jingang Liu
Polymers 2024, 16(19), 2845; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16192845 - 9 Oct 2024
Viewed by 681
Abstract
Optically transparent polyimide (PI) films with good atomic oxygen (AO) resistance have been paid extensive attention as thermal controls, optical substrates for solar cells or other components for low Earth orbit (LEO) space applications. However, for common PI films, it is usually quite [...] Read more.
Optically transparent polyimide (PI) films with good atomic oxygen (AO) resistance have been paid extensive attention as thermal controls, optical substrates for solar cells or other components for low Earth orbit (LEO) space applications. However, for common PI films, it is usually quite difficult to achieve both high optical transparency and AO resistance and maintain the intrinsic thermal stability of the PI films at the same time. In the current work, we aimed to achieve the target by using the copolymerization methodology using the fluorinated dianhydride 9,9-bis(trifluoromethyl)xanthene-2,3,6,7-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (6FCDA), the fluorinated diamine 2,2-bis [4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane (BDAF) and the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-containing diamine N-[(heptaisobutyl-POSS)propyl]-3,5-diaminobenzamide (DABA-POSS) as the starting materials. The fluoro-containing monomers were used to endow the PI films with good optical and thermal properties, while the silicon-containing monomer was used to improve the AO resistance of the afforded PI films. Thus, the 6FCDA-based PI copolymers, including 6FCPI-1, 6FCPI-2 and 6FCPI-3, were prepared using a two-step chemical imidization procedure, respectively. For comparison, the analogous PIs, including 6FPI-1, 6FPI-2 and 6FPI-3, were correspondingly developed according to the same procedure except that 6FCDA was replaced by 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA). Two referenced PI homopolymers were prepared from BDAF and 6FDA (PI-ref1) and 6FCDA (PI-ref2), respectively. The experimental results indicated that a good balance among thermal stability, optical transparency, and AO resistance was achieved by the 6FCDA-PI films. For example, the 6FCDA-PI films exhibited good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures (Tg) up to 297.3 °C, good optical transparency with an optical transmittance at a wavelength of 450 nm (T450) higher than 62% and good AO resistance with the erosion yield (Ey) as low as 1.7 × 10−25 cm3/atom at an AO irradiation fluence of 5.0 × 1020 atoms/cm2. The developed 6FCDA-PI films might find various applications in aerospace as solar sails, thermal control blankets, optical components and other functional materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films and Their Applications)
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15 pages, 4509 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Polylactide-Based Active Films Containing Berberine and Quercetin as Systems for Maintaining the Quality and Safety of Blueberries
by Ewa Olewnik-Kruszkowska, Martina Ferri, Mariana C. Cardeira, Magdalena Gierszewska and Anna Rudawska
Polymers 2024, 16(11), 1577; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16111577 - 2 Jun 2024
Viewed by 739
Abstract
Polymeric thin films based on polylactide with an addition of poly(ethylene glycol) as a plasticizer and flavonoids in the form of quercetin and berberine were subjected to tests that were particularly relevant from the point of view of contact with food. A comparative [...] Read more.
Polymeric thin films based on polylactide with an addition of poly(ethylene glycol) as a plasticizer and flavonoids in the form of quercetin and berberine were subjected to tests that were particularly relevant from the point of view of contact with food. A comparative analysis of the effect of individual flavonoids on the antioxidative properties of tested films and blueberry storage was carried out. The influence of active compounds on the water vapor permeability, as well as UV protection, of the obtained materials was investigated. Also, the specific migration of individual flavonoids from obtained materials to food simulants in the form of acetic acid and ethyl alcohol was determined. The crucial point of this study is the storage of blueberries. The obtained results indicate that the selection of packaging, containing individual active compounds, depends on the purpose and requirements that the packaging must meet for particular types of food. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films and Their Applications)
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