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Innovations in Polymeric Materials: Exploring Advancements and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2025 | Viewed by 5555

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, No. 41 A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Interests: graft polymerization; n-vinylimidazole; gellan gum; betaine structure; nanoparticles; smart polymers; dental applications
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances and developments in the field of polymer science and technology, as well as the great versatility of natural and synthetic polymers, have led to the design of innovative polymeric materials. From a chemical perspective, synthetic polymers have clear advantages over natural ones; they are easy and cheap to obtain in large quantities, and have high purity and controlled chemical structures. However, natural polymers are biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic. The variety of chemical structures and the need to design new types of advanced materials have resulted in the diversification of the preparation method required according to the type of application desired. Modern polymer technologies, including 3D printing, injection molding and extrusion, can improve the efficiency, reduce manufacturing costs and achieve complex polymer structures.

This Special Issue, entitled “Innovations in Polymeric Materials: Exploring Advancements and Applications”, reflects a generous and attractive topic; we therefore invite researchers and research teams from academic and industrial institutions to submit their research and review articles focused on the synthesis and characterization of innovative polymeric materials with high performance structures and a high impact in various application areas, such as the following: automotive industry, energies storage, circular economy, anti-corrosion coatings, food industry, environmental remediation, biomedicine, pharmacy and more.

Dr. Silvia Vasiliu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • eco-friendly polymers
  • nanocomposites
  • biodegradable polymers
  • smart materials
  • polymer recycling
  • drug delivery systems
  • biocompatible polymers
  • food industry
  • wastewater treatment

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 5870 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Bis(isodecyl Terephthalate) from Waste Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) Catalyzed by Lewis Acid Catalysts
by Marcin Muszyński, Janusz Nowicki, Agata Krasuska, Ewa Nowakowska-Bogdan, Maria Bartoszewicz, Piotr Woszczyński, Mateusz Zygadło and Gabriela Dudek
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 12953; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312953 - 2 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1644
Abstract
Increasing plastic waste generation has become a pressing environmental problem. One of the most produced waste plastics originates from post-consumer packaging, of which PET constitutes a significant portion. Despite increasing recycling rates, its accumulation has created a need for the development of new [...] Read more.
Increasing plastic waste generation has become a pressing environmental problem. One of the most produced waste plastics originates from post-consumer packaging, of which PET constitutes a significant portion. Despite increasing recycling rates, its accumulation has created a need for the development of new recycling methods that can further expand the possibilities of recycling. In this paper, we present the application of Lewis acid catalysts for the depolymerization of PET waste. The obtained results show the formation of diisodecyl terephthalate (DIDTP), which is used as a PVC plasticizer. For this purpose, several Lewis acid catalysts were tested, including tin, cobalt, manganese, zirconium, zinc, and calcium derivatives, alongside zinc acetate and potassium hydroxide, which were used as reference catalysts. Our results show that tin (II) oxalate is the most effective catalyst, and it was then used to synthesize two application samples (crude and purified). The physicochemical properties of PVC mixtures with the obtained samples were determined and compared to commercial plasticizers, where both plasticizers had similar plasticizing properties to PVC plasticization. Full article
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18 pages, 10950 KiB  
Article
Wound Closure Promotion by Leucine-Based Pseudo-Proteins: An In Vitro Study
by Mariam Ksovreli, Tinatin Kachlishvili, Mariam Skhvitaridze, Lili Nadaraia, Rusudan Goliadze, Luka Kamashidze, Knarita Zurabiani, Tatuli Batsatsashvili, Nino Kvachantiradze, Marekhi Gverdtsiteli, Temur Kantaria, Olivier Piot, Marie-Pierre Courageot, Christine Terryn, Pavel Tchelidze, Ramaz Katsarava and Nina Kulikova
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9641; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179641 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1280
Abstract
Our research explores leucine-based pseudo-proteins (LPPs) for advanced wound dressings, focusing on their effects on wound healing in an in vitro model. We assessed three types of LPP films for their ability to enhance wound closure rates and modulate cytokine production. They all [...] Read more.
Our research explores leucine-based pseudo-proteins (LPPs) for advanced wound dressings, focusing on their effects on wound healing in an in vitro model. We assessed three types of LPP films for their ability to enhance wound closure rates and modulate cytokine production. They all significantly improved wound closure compared to traditional methods, with the 8L6 and copolymer films showing the most pronounced effects. Notably, the latter exhibited an optimal cytokine profile: an initial burst of pro-inflammatory TNF-α, followed by a controlled release of IL-6 during the proliferative phase and a significant increase in anti-inflammatory IL-10 during remodeling. This balanced cytokine response suggests that the copolymer film not only accelerates wound closure but also supports a well-regulated healing process, potentially reducing fibrosis and abnormal scarring, underscoring the potential of copolymer LPPs as advanced wound dressing materials. Future research will aim to elucidate the specific signaling pathways activated by the copolymer LPP to better understand its mechanism of action. Overall, LPP films offer a promising approach to improving wound care and could lead to more effective treatments for complex wounds. Full article
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Review

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18 pages, 685 KiB  
Review
A Wooden Carbon-Based Photocatalyst for Water Treatment
by Chang Zhang, Shangjie Ge-Zhang, Yudong Wang and Hongbo Mu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 4743; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094743 - 26 Apr 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1696
Abstract
Due to a large number of harmful chemicals flowing into the water source in production and life, the water quality deteriorates, and the use value of water is reduced or lost. Biochar has a strong physical adsorption effect, but it can only separate [...] Read more.
Due to a large number of harmful chemicals flowing into the water source in production and life, the water quality deteriorates, and the use value of water is reduced or lost. Biochar has a strong physical adsorption effect, but it can only separate pollutants from water and cannot eliminate pollutants fundamentally. Photocatalytic degradation technology using photocatalysts uses chemical methods to degrade or mineralize organic pollutants, but it is difficult to recover and reuse. Woody biomass has the advantages of huge reserves, convenient access and a low price. Processing woody biomass into biochar and then combining it with photocatalysts has played a complementary role. In this paper, the shortcomings of a photocatalyst and biochar in water treatment are introduced, respectively, and the advantages of a woody biochar-based photocatalyst made by combining them are summarized. The preparation and assembly methods of the woody biochar-based photocatalyst starting from the preparation of biochar are listed, and the water treatment efficiency of the woody biochar-based photocatalyst using different photocatalysts is listed. Finally, the future development of the woody biochar-based photocatalyst is summarized and prospected. Full article
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