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Advances in Biopolymer Composites and Their Applications
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Advances in Biopolymer Composites and Their Applications

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2024) | Viewed by 14699

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dorota Korte

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Environmental Research, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
Interests: photothermal sciences; laser-based detection methods; advanced material characterization; non-destructive testing and evaluation; photothermal spectrometry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mohanachandran Nair Sindhu Swapna

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
Interests: material characterization; photothermal science; beam deflection spectrometrym thermal lens spectrometry; optics and lasers technology; applied physics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The application of biopolymers and their composites is a rapidly advancing field. This is due to their unique characteristics, including their wide availability, renewability or sustainability. Furthermore, it is believed that biopolymer composites will replace various conventional materials in industrial, medical, environmental or engineering applications.

Thus, this Special Issue aims to present the latest advances in and application of biopolymer composites related to the processing techniques employed in biocomposite fabrication and characterization, the challenges associated with their mechanical performance, and their practical application.

This Special Issue will publish high-quality original research papers in the following multidisciplinary fields:

  • Biomaterials and natural materials;
  • Techniques of biocomposite fabrication;
  • Biocomposite science and engineering;
  • Techniques of biocomposite testing and characterization;
  • Material synthesis by green chemistry approaches;
  • Green sustainable science and technology;
  • Sustainable and green chemistry;
  • Application of biocomposite materials.

Dr. Dorota Korte
Dr. Mohanachandran Nair Sindhu Swapna
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. Applied Sciences 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 2400 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

  • biopolymer composites
  • processing and characterization of bio-based materials
  • high-performance biocomposites with low environmental impact
  • processing techniques of biocomposite fabrication
  • testing of biopolymer composites
  • performance of biopolymer composites

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 4512 KiB  
Article
Production of Polymeric Films from Orange and Ginger Waste for Packaging Application and Investigation of Mechanical and Thermal Characteristics of Biofilms
by Raouf Moaveni, Mohammad Ghane, Parham Soltani, Akram Zamani and Sunil Kumar Ramamoorthy
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4670; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114670 - 29 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1561
Abstract
Citrus waste has been used as a source of bioplastics for research in different ways. Because the juice industry produces significant amounts of residue each year, it would be advantageous to use the byproducts in the creation of new materials. Researchers have long [...] Read more.
Citrus waste has been used as a source of bioplastics for research in different ways. Because the juice industry produces significant amounts of residue each year, it would be advantageous to use the byproducts in the creation of new materials. Researchers have long explored eco-friendly methods to convert citrus and other organic waste into polymers for producing biodegradable films. The goal of this study is to create biofilms from orange waste (OW) and ginger waste (GW) using an ultrafine grinder and study the films’ properties. Since pectin has the ability to gel, and because cellulosic fibers are strong, citrus waste has been studied for its potential to produce biofilms. After being washed, dried, and milled, orange and ginger waste was shaped into films using a casting process. Tensile testing was used to determine the mechanical properties of biofilms, while dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to determine their thermal properties. As the number of grinding cycles increased, the suspension’s viscosity increased from 29 mPa.s to 57 mPa.s for OW and from 217 mPa.s to 376 mPa.s for GW, while the particle size in the suspension significantly decreased. For OW and GW films, the highest tensile strength was 17 MPa and 15 MPa, respectively. The maximum strain obtained among all films was 4.8%. All the tested films were stable up to 150 °C, and maximum degradation occured after 300 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biopolymer Composites and Their Applications)
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15 pages, 12469 KiB  
Article
Polyethylene Terephthalate Fiber Modified with Type I Collagen as a 3D Scaffold Material for Bioartificial Liver
by Yang Li, Yang Zhang, Jianping Gao, Shuguang Liao and Guifeng Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4537; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114537 - 25 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1322
Abstract
Acute and chronic liver failure are clinically significant conditions, and the artificial liver support system (ALSS) is emerging as a novel and effective approach for the clinical management of liver failure. Within this framework, scaffold materials occupy a pivotal position as integral components [...] Read more.
Acute and chronic liver failure are clinically significant conditions, and the artificial liver support system (ALSS) is emerging as a novel and effective approach for the clinical management of liver failure. Within this framework, scaffold materials occupy a pivotal position as integral components of the bioreactor. Elevating the performance capabilities of these scaffolds not only augments the therapeutic efficacy of the artificial liver but also lays the groundwork for refining and selecting large-scale hepatocyte culture models. In this study, we introduced a novel hepatocyte scaffold material designated as PET-COL, crafted by coating polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with collagen. This involved a sequence of modifications, including alkaline hydrolysis, EDC/NHS activation and crosslinking, as well as collagen conjugation. The physicochemical attributes of the scaffold were thoroughly characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), second harmonic generation (SHG), water contact angle measurements, and high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Furthermore, an investigation into the material’s biological properties was conducted that encompassed SEM (HepaRG growth), fluorescence staining (assessment of cell viability), staining by trypan blue (HepaRG counting), CCK-8 (proliferation of cells), biochemical testing, and immunosorbent assay. Our findings revealed that collagen was covalently bonded to the PET surface, leading to a substantial enhancement in the material’s hydrophilicity (p < 0.001). The quantity of collagen coating was determined to be precisely 33.30 μg per scaffold. Human liver progenitor HepaRG cells thrived on the PET-COL material. Compared with the untreated group, cell viability, albumin secretion, urea synthesis, and the expression levels of CYP3A4 and CPS1 increased significantly (p < 0.001), demonstrating remarkable biological vitality. The PET-COL scaffold, as developed in this study, holds immense potential for application in bioartificial livers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biopolymer Composites and Their Applications)
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15 pages, 5388 KiB  
Article
Towards Greener Packaging: Tapioca Starch-Based Biocomposites with Siam Weed Extract and Flax Seed Gel as Sustainable Antibacterial Packaging Material
by Mohanachandran Nair Sindhu Swapna, Abin Oscar, Dorota Korte and Sankaranarayana Iyer Sankararaman
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 1419; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14041419 - 8 Feb 2024
Viewed by 2298
Abstract
This paper delves into the development of biocomposite (BC) packaging material from tapioca starch (TS), flax seed gel (FS), and Siam weed (SW) extract, considering the increased demand for sustainable, eco-friendly packaging materials. The BCs—BC1 (40 mL), BC2 (80 mL), and BC3 (120 [...] Read more.
This paper delves into the development of biocomposite (BC) packaging material from tapioca starch (TS), flax seed gel (FS), and Siam weed (SW) extract, considering the increased demand for sustainable, eco-friendly packaging materials. The BCs—BC1 (40 mL), BC2 (80 mL), and BC3 (120 mL), prepared by varying the concentration of SW—were subjected to morphological, structure, thermal, and optical characterisations. The BC with a fragmented, agglomerated morphology shows cellulosic peaks in the X-ray diffraction pattern, indicating the C-type crystalline structure in TS. Thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the BC’s safe use up to 300 °C, with a minimal 40% weight loss. Differential scanning calorimetry plots identified heat absorption during gelatinisation, with an endothermic peak at 300 °C marking a phase transition. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–visible spectra revealed functional groups that attribute antibacterial potential to the BC. The optical analyses show greater absorption and fewer emissions, resulting in the increased enthalpy responsible for the microbial activities. Antibacterial studies demonstrated BC2’s efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, while the stability against humidity and the minimal weight loss underscored the BC’s robust thermal stability. FTIR spectra of post-heating at 80 °C confirmed the structural integrity, positioning the BC as a promising material for eco-friendly packaging solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biopolymer Composites and Their Applications)
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18 pages, 10248 KiB  
Article
Ex Situ and In Situ Artificial Thermo-Aging Study of the Natural Degradation of Bombyx mori Silk Fibroin
by Monika A. Koperska, Jacek Bagniuk, Małgorzata M. Zaitz-Olsza, Katarzyna Gassowska, Dominika Pawcenis, Maciej Sitarz, Ewa Bulska and Joanna Profic-Paczkowska
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9427; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169427 - 19 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1809
Abstract
This study investigates the degradation mechanism of silk fibroin through Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The secondary structure of silk fibroin-based materials is monitored using FTIR, and various estimators are calculated to assess the impact of degradation conditions and aging time. The oxidation [...] Read more.
This study investigates the degradation mechanism of silk fibroin through Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The secondary structure of silk fibroin-based materials is monitored using FTIR, and various estimators are calculated to assess the impact of degradation conditions and aging time. The oxidation estimator shows consistent growth, indicating peptide bond oxidation from the early stages of artificial aging, regardless of the conditions. The environment influences the hydrolysis estimator, with water introduction leading to significant changes. The crystallinity estimator reflects the overall degradation level, affected by oxidation and hydrolysis. XRD and FTIR analysis of historical silk banners up to 500 years old demonstrate a decrease in crystallinity and an increase in hydrolysis and oxidation. The presence of water accelerates the oxidation process, while crystallinity changes are primarily driven by oxidation. Fibroin degradation affects both antiparallel and parallel regions, with water playing a crucial role in accelerating hydrolysis and causing structural shifts. This study enhances our understanding of silk fibroin degradation and provides valuable insights for preserving historical silk artifacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biopolymer Composites and Their Applications)
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Review

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23 pages, 1093 KiB  
Review
An Overview of Biopolymers for Drug Delivery Applications
by Ocsana Opriș, Cristina Mormile, Ildiko Lung, Adina Stegarescu, Maria-Loredana Soran and Albert Soran
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 1383; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14041383 - 8 Feb 2024
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7176
Abstract
Nowadays, drug delivery has an important role in medical therapy. The use of biopolymers in developing drug delivery systems (DDSs) is increasingly attracting attention due to their remarkable and numerous advantages, in contrast to conventional polymers. Biopolymers have many advantages (biodegradability, biocompatibility, renewability, [...] Read more.
Nowadays, drug delivery has an important role in medical therapy. The use of biopolymers in developing drug delivery systems (DDSs) is increasingly attracting attention due to their remarkable and numerous advantages, in contrast to conventional polymers. Biopolymers have many advantages (biodegradability, biocompatibility, renewability, affordability, and availability), which are extremely important for developing materials with applications in the biomedical field. Additionally, biopolymers are appropriate when they improve functioning and have a number of positive effects on human life. Therefore, this review presents the most used biopolymers for biomedical applications, especially in drug delivery. In addition, by combining different biopolymers DDSs with tailored functional properties (e.g., physical properties, biodegradability) can be developed. This review summarizes and provides data on the progress of research on biopolymers (chitosan, alginate, starch, cellulose, albumin, silk fibroin, collagen, and gelatin) used in DDSs, their preparation, and mechanism of action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biopolymer Composites and Their Applications)
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