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Bioengineering
Special Issues
Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Biomacromolecules and Biobased Polymers
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Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Biomacromolecules and Biobased Polymers

A special issue of Bioengineering (ISSN 2306-5354). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1948

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shichao Ding

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
Interests: wearable electronics; biosensors; autonomous devices; flexible materials; energy systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Wenzhuo Chen

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xi'an, China
Interests: supramolecular self-assembly; cation-π chemistry; biomaterial science; nanobiotechnology; Pt(II) metallacycles

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomacromolecules and biobased polymers encompass a diverse range of large molecular substances found in biological organisms, including nucleic acids (polynucleotides), proteins (polypeptides), carbohydrates (glucans or polysaccharides) and lipids. These substances have attracted significant attention in the biopharmaceutical field due to their natural properties such as high biocompatibility, biodegradability, low immunogenicity and efficient targeting capabilities. Moreover, as environmentally friendly materials, biomacromolecules and biobased polymers are easily degradable and renewable, offering potential solutions to global energy depletion issues. Despite their promising properties, challenges exist in replacing traditional polymers with these substances for advanced materials, including issues with stability, high extraction costs and limited processability. Efforts in optimized design synthesis aim to enhance the stability and delivery capacity of these biological materials, making them more accessible and cost-effective. This research is expanding their applications across diverse fields such as biopharmaceuticals, tissue engineering, biosensors, environmental protection, bioinformatics, bioengineering and materials science, representing a current research frontier.

We invite contributions to this focused Special Issue and encourage you to share this information with colleagues and peers who may be interested in this topic.

Dr. Shichao Ding
Dr. Wenzhuo Chen
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Bioengineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • biomacromolecules
  • biobased polymers
  • synthesis
  • characterization
  • engineered biomaterial
  • biopharmaceuticals

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

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24 pages, 4932 KB  
Article
Microencapsulation of β-Glucosidase in Alginate Beads for Post-Rumen Release in Ruminant Gut
by Nada Almassri, Francisco J. Trujillo, Athol V. Klieve, Robert Bell, Danyang Ying and Netsanet Shiferaw Terefe
Bioengineering 2025, 12(12), 1341; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12121341 - 9 Dec 2025
Viewed by 298
Abstract
This study aimed to develop a microencapsulation formulation for efficient encapsulation of β-glucosidase to improve its stability in a rumen-like environment and sustain activity post-rumen in the ruminant gut. Various alginate-based formulations were evaluated to achieve high encapsulation efficiency (EE) and stability. These [...] Read more.
This study aimed to develop a microencapsulation formulation for efficient encapsulation of β-glucosidase to improve its stability in a rumen-like environment and sustain activity post-rumen in the ruminant gut. Various alginate-based formulations were evaluated to achieve high encapsulation efficiency (EE) and stability. These included control alginate beads (AB), microcapsules with chitosan (MCS), alginate–sucrose beads (AOS), alginate–sucrose–maltodextrin beads (AOMS), and alginate pectin beads (APB). The microcapsules were made using Buchi encapsulator B-390 with calcium chloride as the gelling solution. Alginate proved to be a suitable polymer for β-glucosidase encapsulation and <1 mm diameter microbeads were obtained across all formulations. Alginate alone (AB: 1% alginate, 0.2 U/mL β-glucosidase) showed low EE (3% ± 1.0) due to leakage and syneresis. Modifying the gelling solution with 0.1% chitosan (MCS) increased EE to 49 ± 2.64% by reducing alginate porosity. Further improvements were achieved by adding stabilizers to the alginate solution (AB), in addition to using the modified gelling solution (MCS): Adding sucrose (AOS) at 4% increased EE to 95.5 ± 2.08%, while adding sucrose (4%) and maltodextrin (2%) (AOMS) achieved 100 ± 2.16%. On the other hand, adding pectin (4%) (APB) to the alginate solution resulted in a lower EE of 40.5% ± 2.55, likely due to interference with alginate crosslinking. In vitro rumen fermentation showed a dry matter degradation of 42–54%, underscoring the need for more robust microcapsules. Encapsulation strategies, such as incorporation of additional protective layers, are essential to enhance bead stability, minimize degradation, and improve enzyme retention, to ensure efficient delivery and sustained enzymatic activity in the hindgut. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Biomacromolecules and Biobased Polymers)
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17 pages, 5800 KB  
Article
3D Printing of Shape Memory Resin for Orthodontic Aligners with Green Synthesized Antimicrobial ZnO Nanoparticles Coatings: Toward Bioactive Devices
by Airy Teramoto-lida, Rafael Álvarez-Chimal, Lorena Reyes-Carmona, Marco Antonio Álvarez-Pérez, Amaury Pozos-Guillen and Febe Carolina Vázquez-Vázquez
Bioengineering 2025, 12(11), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12111193 - 1 Nov 2025
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Abstract
The development of bioactive dental materials with antimicrobial and biocompatible properties is important for improving clinical outcomes and reducing complications associated with intraoral devices. This study presents a novel approach that combines a 3D-printed shape-memory resin (TC-85DAC) with green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO [...] Read more.
The development of bioactive dental materials with antimicrobial and biocompatible properties is important for improving clinical outcomes and reducing complications associated with intraoral devices. This study presents a novel approach that combines a 3D-printed shape-memory resin (TC-85DAC) with green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to enhance biological performance. ZnO NPs were synthesized using Dysphania ambrosioides extract, producing quasi-spherical particles with a crystalline hexagonal structure and sizes between 15 and 40 nm. Resin discs were coated with ZnO NPs at 10%, 20%, and 30%, then assessed for biocompatibility with human gingival fibroblasts and antibacterial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans. Surface roughness was also considered with and without ZnO NPs. Biocompatibility assays revealed a concentration- and time-dependent increase in cell viability, with the highest values at 30% ZnO NPs after 72 h of exposure to the NPs. Antibacterial testing confirmed the inhibition of both species, with Porphyromonas gingivalis showing greater sensitivity. Surface roughness increased with higher ZnO NPs concentrations, significantly influencing biological interactions. The integration of green-synthesized ZnO NPs with shape-memory resin produced a multifunctional dental material with improved bioactivity. This sustainable strategy enables bioactive coatings on 3D-printed resins, with potential applications in the next generation of smart dental devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Biomacromolecules and Biobased Polymers)
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