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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 12724

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Stelian Vlad

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Guest Editor

Physics of Polymers and Polymeric Materials, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Aleea Grigore Ghica Voda, 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Interests: polymer synthesis; polymer composites; electrospinning; polymer characterization; polymer-based biomaterials

Dr. Magdalena Aflori

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Guest Editor

Department of Physics of Polymers and Polymeric Materials, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Interests: surface modification of polymers; DC and RF plasma; biomaterials; polymer composites; chemical and morphological characterization of polymers
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Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Biomaterials are becoming more and more ubiquitous in everyday life. Medical applications have found a special place in their development and marketing. Polymer-based materials have been proven to be clever options in biomedical application due to their versatility in the design and preparation of a wide variety of structures with appropriate chemical, physical, surface biocompatibility and biomimetic properties. Therefore, materials based on natural and synthetic polymers have demonstrated myriad applications in the biomedical field, such as scaffolds for tissue regeneration, implants, drug delivery, cancer therapy, biosensors, and so on. Due to their unique proprieties, functional polymers are crucial in developing new solutions and materials to overcome the most common requirements of biomaterials. The Special Issue will cover the synthesis, investigation, and tuning of properties and applications of various functional polymer biomaterials, as well as the latest research in the field. Both original articles and reviews are accepted for submission.

Dr. Stelian Vlad
Dr. Magdalena Aflori
Guest 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 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

Biodegradable polymers
Functional biomaterials
Medical device applications
Polymeric biomaterials
Synthetic and natural polymers
Surface modification
(Nano)composites
Antimicrobial
Biocompatibility

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2485 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Alginate Films Containing Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) Essential Oil

by Jolanta Kowalonek, Natalia Stachowiak, Kinga Bolczak and Agnieszka Richert

Polymers 2023, 15(2), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020260 - 4 Jan 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2588

Abstract

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is a common plant used in folk medicine for digestive problems, fevers, and migraines; against parasites; and as an insect repellent. The active substances in essential oil are responsible for its antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Thus, tansy essential oil (TO) was added to alginate films to fabricate materials with antioxidant and antibacterial properties for food packaging. Sodium alginate films with glycerol and TO were tested in terms of structure, mechanical, thermal, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. The structure of the films was examined using SEM and an ATR-FTIR spectrophotometer. The addition of TO to the alginate film significantly changed the films’ microstructure, making them rougher and porous. A low-intensity band at 1739 cm⁻¹, indicative of the presence of TO, appeared in all spectra of alginate films with TO. Moreover, the studies revealed that essential oil acted as a plasticizer, slightly reducing tensile strength from about 7 MPa to 5 MPa and increasing elongation at break from 52% to 56% for the sample with 2% TO. The alginate films enriched in TO exhibited antioxidant properties (280 μmol Trolox/100 g of the sample with 2% TO) and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Biomaterials)

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17 pages, 11376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibacterial Activity and Biocompatibility with the Concentration of Ginger Fraction in Biodegradable Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA) Hydrogel Coating for Medical Implants

by Seo-young Kim, Ae-jin Choi, Jung-Eun Park, Yong-seok Jang and Min-ho Lee

Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5317; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235317 - 5 Dec 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2517

Abstract

The gingerols and shogaols derived from ginger have excellent antibacterial properties against oral bacteria. However, some researchers have noted their dose-dependent potential toxicity. The aim of this study was to enhance the biofunctionality and biocompatibility of the application of ginger to dental titanium screws. To increase the amount of coating of the n-hexane-fractionated ginger on the titanium surface and to control its release, ginger was loaded in different concentrations in a photo-crosslinkable GelMA hydrogel. To improve coating stability of the ginger hydrogel (GH), the wettability of the surface was modified by pre-calcification (TNC), then GH was applied on the surface. As a result, the ginger fraction, with a high content of phenolic compounds, was effective in the inhibition of the growth of S. mutans and P. gingivalis. The GH slowly released the main compounds of ginger and showed excellent antibacterial effects with the concentration. Although bone regeneration was slightly reduced with the ginger-loading concentration due to the increased contents of polyphenolic compounds, it was strongly supplemented through the promotion of osteosis formation by the hydrogel and TNC coating. Finally, we proved the biosafety and superior biofunctionalities the GH−TNC coating on a Ti implant. However, it is recommended to use an appropriate concentration, because an excessive concentration of ginger may affect the improved biocompatibility in clinical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Biomaterials)

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14 pages, 5312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lactide and Ethylene Brassylate-Based Thermoplastic Elastomers and Their Nanocomposites with Carbon Nanotubes: Synthesis, Mechanical Properties and Interaction with Astrocytes

by Carlos Bello-Álvarez, Agustin Etxeberria, Yurena Polo, Jose-Ramon Sarasua, Ester Zuza and Aitor Larrañaga

Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4656; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214656 - 1 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1954

Abstract

Polylactide (PLA) is among the most commonly used polymers for biomedical applications thanks to its biodegradability and cytocompatibility. However, its inherent stiffness and brittleness are clearly inappropriate for the regeneration of soft tissues (e.g., neural tissue), which demands biomaterials with soft and elastomeric behavior capable of resembling the mechanical properties of the native tissue. In this work, both L- and D,L-lactide were copolymerized with ethylene brassylate, a macrolactone that represents a promising alternative to previously studied comonomers (e.g., caprolactone) due to its natural origin. The resulting copolymers showed an elastomeric behavior characterized by relatively low Young’s modulus, high elongation at break and high strain recovery capacity. The thermoplastic nature of the resulting copolymers allows the incorporation of nanofillers (i.e., carbon nanotubes) that further enable the modulation of their mechanical properties. Additionally, nanostructured scaffolds were easily fabricated through a thermo-pressing process with the aid of a commercially available silicon stamp, providing geometrical cues for the adhesion and elongation of cells representative of the nervous system (i.e., astrocytes). Accordingly, the lactide and ethylene brassylate-based copolymers synthesized herein represent an interesting formulation for the development of polymeric scaffolds intended to be used in the regeneration of soft tissues, thanks to their adjustable mechanical properties, thermoplastic nature and observed cytocompatibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Biomaterials)

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10 pages, 3094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conductive Silver/Carbon Fiber Films for Rapid Detection of Human Coronavirus

by Hwan Gyun Jeon, Ji Wook Choi, Hee Uk Lee and Bong Geun Chung

Polymers 2022, 14(10), 1983; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14101983 - 12 May 2022

Viewed by 1884

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction has gained attention since the outbreak of novel coronavirus in 2019. Due to its high specificity and capability for early detection, it is considered a standard method for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. However, the conventional thermocyclers used for nucleic acid amplification are not suitable for point-of-care testing applications, as they require expensive instruments, high-power consumption, and a long turnaround time. To suppress the widespread of the pandemic, there is an urgent need for the development of a rapid, inexpensive, and portable thermal cycler. Therefore, in this paper, we present a conductive silver/carbon fiber film-based thermal cycler with low power consumption (<5 W), efficient heating (~4.5 °C/s), low cost (<USD 200), and handheld size (11.5 × 7.1 × 7.5 mm). The conductive film, which was used as a heating source of the thermal cycler, was fabricated by the electrochemical deposition method. The successful coating of Ag was characterized by a scanning electron microscope and confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The film showed excellent electrical/thermal conductivity and durability. Using our thermal cycler, 35 cycles of amplification were accomplished within 10 min. We also successfully demonstrated the multiplexed detection of various human coronaviruses (e.g., OC43, 229E, and NL63) using our thermal cycler. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Biomaterials)

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22 pages, 10384 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Composite Materials Based on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Polyurethane for Improving the Quality of MRI

by Luiza Madalina Gradinaru, Mihaela Barbalata Mandru, Mioara Drobota, Magdalena Aflori, Maria Butnaru, Maria Spiridon, Florica Doroftei, Mihaela Aradoaei, Romeo Cristian Ciobanu and Stelian Vlad

Polymers 2021, 13(24), 4316; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13244316 - 9 Dec 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3380

Abstract

Polyether urethane (PU)-based magnetic composite materials, containing different types and concentrations of iron oxide nanostructures (Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄), were prepared and investigated as a novel composite platform that could be explored in different applications, especially for the improvement of the image quality of MRI investigations. Firstly, the PU structure was synthetized by means of a polyaddition reaction and then hematite (Fe₂O₃) and magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were added to the PU matrices to prepare magnetic nanocomposites. The type and amount of iron oxide nanoparticles influenced its structural, morphological, mechanical, dielectric, and magnetic properties. Thus, the morphology and wettability of the PU nanocomposites surfaces presented different behaviours depending on the amount of the iron oxide nanoparticles embedded in the matrices. Mechanical, dielectric, and magnetic properties were enhanced in the composites’ samples when compared with pristine PU matrix. In addition, the investigation of in vitro cytocompatibility of prepared PU nanocomposites showed that these samples are good candidates for biomedical applications, with cell viability levels in the range of 80–90%. Considering all the investigations, we can conclude that the addition of magnetic particles introduced additional properties to the composite, which could significantly expand the functionality of the materials developed in this work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Biomaterials)

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Review

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34 pages, 36510 KiB

Open AccessReview

Colorimetric Indicators Based on Anthocyanin Polymer Composites: A Review

by Despoina Kossyvaki, Marco Contardi, Athanassia Athanassiou and Despina Fragouli

Polymers 2022, 14(19), 4129; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14194129 - 2 Oct 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5028

Abstract

This review explores the colorimetric indicators based on anthocyanin polymer composites fabricated in the last decade, in order to provide a comprehensive overview of their morphological and compositional characteristics and their efficacy in their various application fields. Notably, the structural properties of the developed materials and the effect on their performance will be thoroughly and critically discussed in order to highlight their important role. Finally, yet importantly, the current challenges and the future perspectives of the use of anthocyanins as components of colorimetric indicator platforms will be highlighted, in order to stimulate the exploration of new anthocyanin sources and the in-depth investigation of all the possibilities that they can offer. This can pave the way for the development of high-end materials and the expansion of their use to new application fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Biomaterials)

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43 pages, 4851 KiB

Open AccessReview

Surface Functionalities of Polymers for Biomaterial Applications

by Mioara Drobota, Stefan Ursache and Magdalena Aflori

Polymers 2022, 14(12), 2307; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14122307 - 7 Jun 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3316

Abstract

Changes of a material biointerface allow for specialized cell signaling and diverse biological responses. Biomaterials incorporating immobilized bioactive ligands have been widely introduced and used for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications in order to develop biomaterials with improved functionality. Furthermore, a variety of physical and chemical techniques have been utilized to improve biomaterial functionality, particularly at the material interface. At the interface level, the interactions between materials and cells are described. The importance of surface features in cell function is then examined, with new strategies for surface modification being highlighted in detail. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Biomaterials)

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