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Development, Characterization and Applications of Novel Polymeric Materials and Composites
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Development, Characterization and Applications of Novel Polymeric Materials and Composites

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Macromolecules".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2025 | Viewed by 10105

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Daniel Dumitru Banciu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Medical Engineering, University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, RO-011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: neuron; synapses; neurobiology; electrophysiology; synaptic transmission; ion channel gating; neuron culture; functional neuroscience
Dr. Xiao Hu

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
Interests: polymer; biomaterials; biomacromolecules; regenerative medicine; drug delivery; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development in the fields of biotechnologies, from molecular biology to diagnosis and treatment, has had an exponential evolution in the last decades. This has led to an increasing fragmentation of science, with the decrease in the capacity for interdisciplinarity with the decrease in the capacity to use the results for concrete social and commercial purposes, such as diagnosis and the therapy of various pathologies. To overcome this barrier, it is necessary to develop new skills for presenting one's own results, through the lens of presenting the potential impact along with the problems that still need to be solved to achieve the goals.

In this sense, we propose catalyzing an effort to present experimental or theoretical model research activities in the field of polymeric or composite materials, in a way that identifies as many interdisciplinary bridges as possible, starting from the idea of development and characterization to be exploited by the scientific and economic community through diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

For this objective, we want to reach the following targets:

  • Theoretical models;
  • Molecular simulations;
  • New polymers;
  • New composite materials;
  • Characterization of the proposed materials;
  • New applications of existing polymer materials and composites;
  • Diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Dr. Daniel Dumitru Banciu
Dr. Xiao Hu
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • diagnosis
  • therapy
  • polymers
  • composite materials
  • theoretical model

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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17 pages, 2024 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Properties of Polymeric Membranes Containing Doxycycline for Potential Applications in Foot Ulcer Treatment
by Stevaly Pérez-Gutiérrez, Jesús Ángel Ramírez-Enciso, Laura Abisai Pazos-Rojas, Abigailt Flores-Ledesma, Eric Reyes-Cervantes, Diana del C. Pazos-Guarneros, Ismael Juárez-Díaz, Paola G. Gordillo-Guerra, Bernardino Isaac Cerda-Cristerna, José Luis Suárez-Franco, Carolina Samano-Valencia, Brenda Erendida Castillo-Silva, Alejandro G. Martínez-Guerrero, Gisela N. Rubin de Celis-Quintana and Alberto V. Jerezano-Domínguez
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3274; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073274 - 1 Apr 2025
Viewed by 844
Abstract
Membranes made from biopolymers and loaded with doxycycline were investigated for potential use in the treatment of foot ulcers in diabetic patients. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CHS) membranes were fabricated with 7% glycerol and 1% doxycycline (DOX). Their mechanical and physical properties, biocompatibility, [...] Read more.
Membranes made from biopolymers and loaded with doxycycline were investigated for potential use in the treatment of foot ulcers in diabetic patients. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CHS) membranes were fabricated with 7% glycerol and 1% doxycycline (DOX). Their mechanical and physical properties, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial effects were thoroughly evaluated. The results demonstrated effective antibacterial activity against S. aureus and S. mutans. Based on the mechanical, physical, and hemolytic data, DOX-loaded CMC/CHS/G membranes show promise as a topical wound delivery system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development, Characterization and Applications of Novel Polymeric Materials and Composites)
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13 pages, 1978 KiB  
Article
Influence of Composition on the Patterns of Electrokinetic Potential of Thermosensitive N-(Isopropyl)Acrylamide Derivatives with Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Dimethacrylate and N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)Acrylamide
by Monika Gasztych, Aleksandra Malamis-Stanowska, Mateusz Trafalski and Witold Musiał
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13554; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413554 - 18 Dec 2024
Viewed by 606
Abstract
The synthesis of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (pNIPA)-based polymers via the surfactant-free precipitation polymerization (SFPP) method produced thermosensitive nanospheres with a range of distinctive physicochemical properties. Nano- and microparticles were generated using various initiators, significantly influencing particle characteristics, including the hydrodynamic diameter (DH), [...] Read more.
The synthesis of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (pNIPA)-based polymers via the surfactant-free precipitation polymerization (SFPP) method produced thermosensitive nanospheres with a range of distinctive physicochemical properties. Nano- and microparticles were generated using various initiators, significantly influencing particle characteristics, including the hydrodynamic diameter (DH), which varied from 87.7 nm to 1618.1 nm. Initiators, such as potassium persulfate and 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride, conferred anionic and cationic functionalities, respectively, impacting the electrokinetic potential (EP) of the particles. Notably, certain particles with cationic initiators exhibited negative EP values at 18 °C, attributed to residual initiator components that affected the surface charge distribution. The presence of hydrophilic N-(2-hydroxyethyl)acrylamide (HEAA) segments also influenced solubility and phase transition behaviors, with critical dependencies on the HEAA/NIPA (N-isopropyl acrylamide) molar ratios. EP measurements taken at 18 °C and 42 °C revealed substantial differences, primarily governed by the initiator type and polymer composition. Observed variations in particle stability and size were associated with the choice of crosslinking agents and comonomer content, which affected both DH and EP in distinct ways. This study provides insights into key factors influencing colloidal stability and electrostatic interactions within thermosensitive polymer systems, underscoring their potential applications in biomedical and industrial fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development, Characterization and Applications of Novel Polymeric Materials and Composites)
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13 pages, 1838 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical Characterization of Diffusion in Polymeric vs. Monomeric Solvents
by Ze’ev Porat
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4472; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084472 - 18 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1467
Abstract
Polymer electrolyte was used as a medium for testing the performance of microband electrodes under conditions of linear diffusion. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) experiments were performed in a highly viscous medium, where diffusion rates are much slower than in fluid solutions. [...] Read more.
Polymer electrolyte was used as a medium for testing the performance of microband electrodes under conditions of linear diffusion. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) experiments were performed in a highly viscous medium, where diffusion rates are much slower than in fluid solutions. The log i vs. log v (CV) or log i vs. log t (CA) relationships with the current equation confirmed the existence of such conditions, yielding slope values that were lower than the expected 0.5. This could indicate an impure linear diffusion profile, i.e., some contribution from radial diffusion (edge effects). However, the desired value of 0.5 was obtained when performing these tests in monomeric solvents of similar viscosities, such as glycerol or propylene glycol. These results led to the conclusion that the current equations, which are based on Fick’s laws, may not be applicable for polymer electrolytes, where various obstructions to free diffusion result in a more complicated process than for monomeric solvents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development, Characterization and Applications of Novel Polymeric Materials and Composites)
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12 pages, 2597 KiB  
Article
Polyallylamine Binds to Aβ Amyloid and Inhibits Antibody Recognition
by Yusuke Tsuchie, Soichiro Kusuda, Haruka Kawabe, Wakako Mori, Mikael Lindgren, Yutaka Watanabe and Tamotsu Zako
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3112; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063112 - 7 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1380
Abstract
Protein amyloids have attracted attention for their application as functional amyloid materials because of their strong properties, such as high resistance to chemical or biological degradation, despite their medical issues. Amyloids can be used for various applications by modifying the amyloid surface with [...] Read more.
Protein amyloids have attracted attention for their application as functional amyloid materials because of their strong properties, such as high resistance to chemical or biological degradation, despite their medical issues. Amyloids can be used for various applications by modifying the amyloid surface with functional materials, such as proteins and polymers. In this study, we investigated the effect of polyallylamine (PAA), a functional cationic polymer as a candidate for amyloid modification, on the amyloids formed from amyloid β (Aβ) peptide. It was demonstrated for the first time that PAA can bind to Aβ amyloids through fluorescence observations and the quenched emission from the tyrosine at site 10 near the fibrillogenic core. These results suggest that PAA could be used to develop new functional amyloids. However, notably, coating Aβ amyloid with PAA could affect conventional amyloid detection assays such as thioflavin T assay and detection using antibodies. Thus, our results also indicate that consideration would be necessary for the analysis of functional amyloids coated with various polymers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development, Characterization and Applications of Novel Polymeric Materials and Composites)
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15 pages, 5957 KiB  
Article
Toxicity of Water-Soluble D-g-PNIPAM Polymers in a Complex with Chemotherapy Drugs and Mechanism of Their Action In Vitro
by Svitlana Prylutska, Anna Grebinyk, Stanislav Ponomarenko, Defne Gövem, Vasyl Chumachenko, Nataliya Kutsevol, Mykola Petrovsky, Uwe Ritter, Marcus Frohme, Jacek Piosik and Yuriy Prylutskyy
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(5), 3069; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25053069 - 6 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1714
Abstract
The application of a biocompatible polymer nanocarrier can provide target delivery to tumor tissues, improved pharmacokinetics, controlled drug release, etc. Therefore, the proposed strategy was to use the water-soluble star-like copolymers with a Dextran core and Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) grafts (D-g-PNIPAM) for conjugation with the [...] Read more.
The application of a biocompatible polymer nanocarrier can provide target delivery to tumor tissues, improved pharmacokinetics, controlled drug release, etc. Therefore, the proposed strategy was to use the water-soluble star-like copolymers with a Dextran core and Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) grafts (D-g-PNIPAM) for conjugation with the widely used chemotherapy drugs in oncology–Cisplatin (Cis-Pt) and Doxorubicin (Dox). The molecular characteristics of the copolymer were received using size-exclusion chromatography. The physicochemical characterization of the D-g-PNIPAM-Cis-Pt (or Dox) nanosystem was conducted using dynamic light scattering and FTIR spectroscopy. Using traditional biochemical methods, a comparative analysis of the enhancement of the cytotoxic effect of free Cis-Pt and Dox in combination with D-g-PNIPAM copolymers was performed in cancer cells of the Lewis lung carcinoma line, which are both sensitive and resistant to Dox; in addition, the mechanism of their action in vitro was evaluated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development, Characterization and Applications of Novel Polymeric Materials and Composites)
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23 pages, 7376 KiB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Electrospun Composites Built on Polycaprolactone and Cerium-Containing Phases
by Cristiana Plocon, Alexandru Evanghelidis, Monica Enculescu, Gabriela Isopencu, Ovidiu Oprea, Mihaela Bacalum, Mina Raileanu, Sorin Jinga and Cristina Busuioc
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 14201; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241814201 - 17 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1530
Abstract
The current study reports on the fabrication of composite scaffolds based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and cerium (Ce)-containing powders, followed by their characterization from compositional, structural, morphological, optical and biological points of view. First, CeO2, Ce-doped calcium phosphates and Ce-substituted bioglass were [...] Read more.
The current study reports on the fabrication of composite scaffolds based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and cerium (Ce)-containing powders, followed by their characterization from compositional, structural, morphological, optical and biological points of view. First, CeO2, Ce-doped calcium phosphates and Ce-substituted bioglass were synthesized by wet-chemistry methods (precipitation/coprecipitation and sol-gel) and subsequently loaded on PCL fibres processed by electrospinning. The powders were proven to be nanometric or micrometric, while the investigation of their phase composition showed that Ce was present as a dopant within the crystal lattice of the obtained calcium phosphates or as crystalline domains inside the glassy matrix. The best bioactivity was attained in the case of Ce-containing bioglass, while the most pronounced antibacterial effect was visible for Ce-doped calcium phosphates calcined at a lower temperature. The scaffolds were composed of either dimensionally homogeneous fibres or mixtures of fibres with a wide size distribution and beads of different shapes. In most cases, the increase in polymer concentration in the precursor solution ensured the achievement of more ordered fibre mats. The immersion in SBF for 28 days triggered an incipient degradation of PCL, evidenced mostly through cracks and gaps. In terms of biological properties, the composite scaffolds displayed a very good biocompatibility when tested with human osteoblast cells, with a superior response for the samples consisting of the polymer and Ce-doped calcium phosphates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development, Characterization and Applications of Novel Polymeric Materials and Composites)
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14 pages, 1028 KiB  
Perspective
Perspectives on Scaffold Designs with Roles in Liver Cell Asymmetry and Medical and Industrial Applications by Using a New Type of Specialized 3D Bioprinter
by Iuliana Harbuz, Daniel Dumitru Banciu, Rodica David, Cristina Cercel, Octavian Cotîrță, Bogdan Marius Ciurea, Sorin Mihai Radu, Stela Dinescu, Sorin Ion Jinga and Adela Banciu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(19), 14722; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914722 - 29 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1486
Abstract
Cellular asymmetry is an important element of efficiency in the compartmentalization of intracellular chemical reactions that ensure efficient tissue function. Improving the current 3D printing methods by using cellular asymmetry is essential in producing complex tissues and organs such as the liver. The [...] Read more.
Cellular asymmetry is an important element of efficiency in the compartmentalization of intracellular chemical reactions that ensure efficient tissue function. Improving the current 3D printing methods by using cellular asymmetry is essential in producing complex tissues and organs such as the liver. The use of cell spots containing at least two cells and basement membrane-like bio support materials allows cells to be tethered at two points on the basement membrane and with another cell in order to maintain cell asymmetry. Our model is a new type of 3D bioprinter that uses oriented multicellular complexes with cellular asymmetry. This novel approach is necessary to replace the sequential and slow processes of organogenesis with rapid methods of growth and 3D organ printing. The use of the extracellular matrix in the process of bioprinting with cells allows one to preserve the cellular asymmetry in the 3D printing process and thus preserve the compartmentalization of biological processes and metabolic efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development, Characterization and Applications of Novel Polymeric Materials and Composites)
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