Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.0
4.7
Journals
Polymers
Special Issues
Bio-Inspired Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications
share announcement

Bio-Inspired Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 March 2025 | Viewed by 4255

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Li Guo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: polymers; biopolymers; peptoids; antifreezing agents; stimuli responding; polymer synthesis; self-assembly

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bio-inspired polymers represent a new class of synthetic materials that draw inspiration from natural biological systems to mimic their structures, properties, and functions. These polymers combine the advantages of synthetic polymers, i.e., they are highly designable and easy to access, and the unique characteristics of biomaterials, such as self-assembly, responsiveness to environmental stimuli, specific molecular recognition, etc. By mimicking the structures and functions of natural biological materials, bio-inspired polymers can offer improved biocompatibility, bioactivity, and specificity for targeted applications. Bio-inspired polymers have been receiving more and more attention for their wide range of applications in biomedicine, materials science, and environmental technology.

The Special Issue on “Bio-Inspired Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications” invites original research articles, communications and reviews of a high quality. All topics related to bio-inspired polymers are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Li Guo
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

  • bio-inspired polymers
  • structure–property study
  • synthetic methods
  • biocompatible materials
  • biodegradable materials
  • smart polymers
  • molecular design
  • stimuli responding
  • characterization

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

28 pages, 9757 KiB  
Article
Influence of Oligomeric Lactic Acid and Structural Design on Biodegradation and Absorption of PLA-PHB Blends for Tissue Engineering
by Jana Čajková, Marianna Trebuňová, Marcel Modrák, Gabriela Ižaríková, Darina Bačenková, Tomáš Balint and Jozef Živčák
Polymers 2024, 16(21), 2969; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16212969 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 614
Abstract
The advancing development in biomaterials and biology has enabled the extension of 3D printing technology to the bioadditive manufacturing of degradable hard tissue substitutes. One of the key advantages of bioadditive manufacturing is that it has much smaller design limitations than conventional manufacturing [...] Read more.
The advancing development in biomaterials and biology has enabled the extension of 3D printing technology to the bioadditive manufacturing of degradable hard tissue substitutes. One of the key advantages of bioadditive manufacturing is that it has much smaller design limitations than conventional manufacturing and is therefore capable of producing implants with complex geometries. In this study, three distinct blends of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) were produced using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology. Two of these blends were plasticized with oligomeric lactic acid (OLA) at concentrations of 5 wt% and 10 wt%, while the third blend remained unplasticized. Each blend was fabricated in two structural modifications: solid and porous. The biodegradation behavior of the produced specimens was examined through an in vitro experiment using three different immersion solutions: saline solution, Hank’s balanced salt solution (HBSS), and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). All examined samples were also subjected to chemical analysis: atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The results of the degradation experiments indicated a predominantly better absorption capacity of the samples with a porous structure compared to the full structure. At the same time, the blend containing a higher concentration of OLA exhibited enhanced pH stability over the evaluation period, maintaining relatively constant pH values before experiencing a minor decline at the end of the study. This observation indicates that the increased presence of the plasticizer may provide a buffering effect, effectively mitigating the acidification associated with material degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 6161 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Potential of 3D-Printed Graphene Prepared Using Direct Ink Writing and Fused Deposition Modelling
by Hushein R., Thulasidhas Dhilipkumar, Karthik V. Shankar, Karuppusamy P, Sachin Salunkhe, Raja Venkatesan, Gamal A. Shazly, Alexandre A. Vetcher and Seong-Cheol Kim
Polymers 2024, 16(17), 2397; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16172397 - 23 Aug 2024
Viewed by 823
Abstract
This research aims to use energy harvested from conductive materials to power microelectronic components. The proposed method involves using vibration-based energy harvesting to increase the natural vibration frequency, reduce the need for battery replacement, and minimise chemical waste. Piezoelectric transduction, known for its [...] Read more.
This research aims to use energy harvested from conductive materials to power microelectronic components. The proposed method involves using vibration-based energy harvesting to increase the natural vibration frequency, reduce the need for battery replacement, and minimise chemical waste. Piezoelectric transduction, known for its high-power density and ease of application, has garnered significant attention. Additionally, graphene, a non-piezoelectric material, exhibits good piezoelectric properties. The research explores a novel method of printing graphene material using 3D printing, specifically Direct Ink Writing (DIW) and fused deposition modelling (FDM). Both simulation and experimental techniques were used to analyse energy harvesting. The experimental technique involved using the cantilever beam-based vibration energy harvesting method. The results showed that the DIW-derived 3D-printed prototype achieved a peak power output of 12.2 µW, surpassing the 6.4 µW output of the FDM-derived 3D-printed prototype. Furthermore, the simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics yielded a harvested output of 0.69 µV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 6495 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Potential and Biocompatibility of Chitosan/Polycaprolactone Nanofibrous Membranes Incorporated with Silver Nanoparticles
by Viktoriia Korniienko, Yevgeniia Husak, Kateryna Diedkova, Yuliia Varava, Vladlens Grebnevs, Oksana Pogorielova, Māris Bērtiņš, Valeriia Korniienko, Baiba Zandersone, Almira Ramanaviciene, Arunas Ramanavicius and Maksym Pogorielov
Polymers 2024, 16(12), 1729; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16121729 - 18 Jun 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1157
Abstract
This study addresses the need for enhanced antimicrobial properties of electrospun membranes, either through surface modifications or the incorporation of antimicrobial agents, which are crucial for improved clinical outcomes. In this context, chitosan—a biopolymer lauded for its biocompatibility and extracellular matrix-mimicking properties—emerges as [...] Read more.
This study addresses the need for enhanced antimicrobial properties of electrospun membranes, either through surface modifications or the incorporation of antimicrobial agents, which are crucial for improved clinical outcomes. In this context, chitosan—a biopolymer lauded for its biocompatibility and extracellular matrix-mimicking properties—emerges as an excellent candidate for tissue regeneration. However, fabricating chitosan nanofibers via electrospinning often challenges the preservation of their structural integrity. This research innovatively develops a chitosan/polycaprolactone (CH/PCL) composite nanofibrous membrane by employing a layer-by-layer electrospinning technique, enhanced with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized through a wet chemical process. The antibacterial efficacy, adhesive properties, and cytotoxicity of electrospun chitosan membranes were evaluated, while also analyzing their hydrophilicity and nanofibrous structure using SEM. The resulting CH/PCL-AgNPs composite membranes retain a porous framework, achieve balanced hydrophilicity, display commendable biocompatibility, and exert broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with their efficacy correlating to the AgNP concentration. Furthermore, our data suggest that the antimicrobial efficiency of these membranes is influenced by the timed release of silver ions during the incubation period. Membranes incorporated starting with AgNPs at a concentration of 50 µg/mL effectively suppressed the growth of both microorganisms during the early stages up to 8 h of incubation. These insights underscore the potential of the developed electrospun composite membranes, with their superior antibacterial qualities, to serve as innovative solutions in the field of tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3204 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Peptoid Antifreeze Agents and Their Structure–Property Relationship
by Kang Yang, Di Liu, Lei Feng, Liugen Xu, Yangang Jiang, Xiran Shen, Amjad Ali, Jianwei Lu and Li Guo
Polymers 2024, 16(7), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070990 - 4 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1274
Abstract
The development of nontoxic and efficient antifreeze agents for organ cryopreservation is crucial. However, the research remains highly challenging. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of peptoid oligomers using the solid-phase submonomer synthesis method by mimicking the amphiphilic structures of [...] Read more.
The development of nontoxic and efficient antifreeze agents for organ cryopreservation is crucial. However, the research remains highly challenging. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of peptoid oligomers using the solid-phase submonomer synthesis method by mimicking the amphiphilic structures of antifreeze proteins (AFPs). The obtained peptoid oligomers showed excellent antifreeze properties, reducing the ice crystal growth rate and inhibiting ice recrystallization. The effects of the hydrophobicity and sequence of the peptoid side chains were also studied to reveal the structure–property relationship. The prepared peptoid oligomers were detected as non-cytotoxic and considered to be useful in the biological field. We hope that the peptoid oligomers presented in this study can provide effective strategies for the design of biological cryoprotectants for organ preservation in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired Polymers: Synthesis, Properties and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop