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Polymers
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Bio-Inspired (Nano)Structured Polymer Scaffolds, Bio-Adhesives, and Surfaces. Engineering and Fabrication...
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Bio-Inspired (Nano)Structured Polymer Scaffolds, Bio-Adhesives, and Surfaces. Engineering and Fabrication for Enhanced Tissue Regeneration

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2022) | Viewed by 11062

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Izabela-Cristina Stancu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Polymer Chemistry and Engineering, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, București 060042, Romania
Interests: bio-inspired materials engineering; nanostructured scaffolds and surfaces; bio-adhesives; bio-functionalization; hydrogels; bio-fabrication; bio-mineralization; biomaterials–tissue interface phenomena
Dr. Andrada Serafim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Advanced Polymer Materials Group, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: microstructural and architectural analyses; mechanical properties; rheological behavior; biofunctionalization; QCM-D
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bio-inspiration has continuously guided the development of improved solutions for tissue reconstruction and regeneration. Replicating the extraordinary natural complexity and functionality often starts with scaffolds engineering and fabrication using natural or synthetic polymer building blocks. Such a design integrates complementary chemical, morphological, structural, and architectural elements, and physical and mechanical features that may stimulate tissue regeneration. Biologically instructive biomaterials and advanced analytical tools and technologies converge toward resolving the remaining challenges of today’s tissue substitutes. Considering the current scientific context, this Special Issue of Polymers aims to cover the state-of-the-art of polymer-based bio-inspired (nano)structured scaffolds, bio-adhesives, and surfaces, especially for the development of tissue analogues. Special emphasis is put on the design inspired by nature, fabrication through advanced techniques such as 3D printing and electrospinning, with a focus on composition–structure–functionality dependency, adjustment of fabrication parameters, and advanced characterization methods. This Special Issue will serve as a forum for scientists developing bio-inspired (nano)structured innovative solutions based on a wide library of natural, synthetic or hybrid polymers. For a comprehensive perspective, reviews including recent advances, current limitations, perspectives, and emerging applications are also welcome. Scientists in the field are cordially invited to go beyond this description and not hesitate to submit papers considered relevant.

Dr. Izabela-Cristina Stancu
Dr. Andrada Serafim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • biomaterial
  • hydrogel
  • natural polymer
  • biodegradable polymer
  • bio-adhesive
  • bio-inspired
  • (nano)structure
  • (nano)mechanical properties
  • fabrication
  • biomimetic scaffolds

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2926 KiB  
Article
Equine Tenocyte Seeding on Gelatin Hydrogels Improves Elongated Morphology
by Marguerite Meeremans, Lana Van Damme, Ward De Spiegelaere, Sandra Van Vlierberghe and Catharina De Schauwer
Polymers 2021, 13(5), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13050747 - 28 Feb 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3027
Abstract
(1) Background: Tendinopathy is a common injury in both human and equine athletes. Representative in vitro models are mandatory to facilitate translation of fundamental research into successful clinical treatments. Natural biomaterials like gelatin provide favorable cell binding characteristics and are easily modifiable. In [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Tendinopathy is a common injury in both human and equine athletes. Representative in vitro models are mandatory to facilitate translation of fundamental research into successful clinical treatments. Natural biomaterials like gelatin provide favorable cell binding characteristics and are easily modifiable. In this study, methacrylated gelatin (gel-MA) and norbornene-functionalized gelatin (gel-NB), crosslinked with 1,4-dithiotreitol (DTT) or thiolated gelatin (gel-SH) were compared. (2) Methods: The physicochemical properties (1H-NMR spectroscopy, gel fraction, swelling ratio, and storage modulus) and equine tenocyte characteristics (proliferation, viability, and morphology) of four different hydrogels (gel-MA, gel-NB85/DTT, gel-NB55/DTT, and gel-NB85/SH75) were evaluated. Cellular functionality was analyzed using fluorescence microscopy (viability assay and focal adhesion staining). (3) Results: The thiol-ene based hydrogels showed a significantly lower gel fraction/storage modulus and a higher swelling ratio compared to gel-MA. Significantly less tenocytes were observed on gel-MA discs at 14 days compared to gel-NB85/DTT, gel-NB55/DTT and gel-NB85/SH75. At 7 and 14 days, the characteristic elongated morphology of tenocytes was significantly more pronounced on gel-NB85/DTT and gel-NB55/DTT in contrast to TCP and gel-MA. (4) Conclusions: Thiol-ene crosslinked gelatins exploiting DTT as a crosslinker are the preferred biomaterials to support the culture of tenocytes. Follow-up experiments will evaluate these biomaterials in more complex models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired (Nano)Structured Polymer Scaffolds, Bio-Adhesives, and Surfaces. Engineering and Fabrication for Enhanced Tissue Regeneration)
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18 pages, 7983 KiB  
Article
Electrospinning Fabrication and Cytocompatibility Investigation of Nanodiamond Particles-Gelatin Fibrous Tubular Scaffolds for Nerve Regeneration
by Elena Olăreț, Diana-Maria Drăgușin, Andrada Serafim, Adriana Lungu, Aida Șelaru, Alexandra Dobranici, Sorina Dinescu, Marieta Costache, Iulian Boerașu, Bogdan Ștefan Vasile, Doris Steinmüller-Nethl, Horia Iovu and Izabela-Cristina Stancu
Polymers 2021, 13(3), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13030407 - 27 Jan 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3682
Abstract
This paper reports the electrospinning fabrication of flexible nanostructured tubular scaffolds, based on fish gelatin (FG) and nanodiamond nanoparticles (NDs), and their cytocompatibility with murine neural stem cells. The effects of both nanofiller and protein concentration on the scaffold morphology, aqueous affinity, size [...] Read more.
This paper reports the electrospinning fabrication of flexible nanostructured tubular scaffolds, based on fish gelatin (FG) and nanodiamond nanoparticles (NDs), and their cytocompatibility with murine neural stem cells. The effects of both nanofiller and protein concentration on the scaffold morphology, aqueous affinity, size modification at rehydration, and degradation are assessed. Our findings indicate that nanostructuring with low amounts of NDs may modify the fiber properties, including a certain regional parallel orientation of fiber segments. NE-4C cells form dense clusters that strongly adhere to the surface of FG50-based scaffolds, while also increasing FG concentration and adding NDs favor cellular infiltration into the flexible fibrous FG70_NDs nanocomposite. This research illustrates the potential of nanostructured NDs-FG fibers as scaffolds for nerve repair and regeneration. We also emphasize the importance of further understanding the effect of the nanofiller-protein interphase on the microstructure and properties of electrospun fibers and on cell-interactivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired (Nano)Structured Polymer Scaffolds, Bio-Adhesives, and Surfaces. Engineering and Fabrication for Enhanced Tissue Regeneration)
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14 pages, 5841 KiB  
Article
Development of 3D Bioactive Scaffolds through 3D Printing Using Wollastonite–Gelatin Inks
by Filis Curti, Izabela-Cristina Stancu, Georgeta Voicu, Horia Iovu, Cristina-Ioana Dobrita, Lucian Toma Ciocan, Rodica Marinescu and Florin Iordache
Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2420; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12102420 - 20 Oct 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3500
Abstract
The bioactivity of scaffolds represents a key property to facilitate the bone repair after orthopedic trauma. This study reports the development of biomimetic paste-type inks based on wollastonite (CS) and fish gelatin (FG) in a mass ratio similar to natural bone, as an [...] Read more.
The bioactivity of scaffolds represents a key property to facilitate the bone repair after orthopedic trauma. This study reports the development of biomimetic paste-type inks based on wollastonite (CS) and fish gelatin (FG) in a mass ratio similar to natural bone, as an appealing strategy to promote the mineralization during scaffold incubation in simulated body fluid (SBF). High-resolution 3D scaffolds were fabricated through 3D printing, and the homogeneous distribution of CS in the protein matrix was revealed by scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction analysis (SEM/EDX) micrographs. The bioactivity of the scaffold was suggested by an outstanding mineralization capacity revealed by the apatite layers deposited on the scaffold surface after immersion in SBF. The biocompatibility was demonstrated by cell proliferation established by MTT assay and fluorescence microscopy images and confirmed by SEM micrographs illustrating cell spreading. This work highlights the potential of the bicomponent inks to fabricate 3D bioactive scaffolds and predicts the osteogenic properties for bone regeneration applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Inspired (Nano)Structured Polymer Scaffolds, Bio-Adhesives, and Surfaces. Engineering and Fabrication for Enhanced Tissue Regeneration)
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