ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Design, Synthesis, and Bioapplications of Multifunctional Materials

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 October 2025 | Viewed by 4271

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Grigore Ghica Voda Alley 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Interests: reactive processing (natural and synthetic polymers); physico-chemical characterization of polymers and composites (rheological, mechanical, thermal, and surface properties); biodegradable polymers; applications of bio-based materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Grigore Ghica Voda Alley 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Interests: polymer surface functionalization by various methods; cellulosic materials; bioactive materials (active, bioactive, smart, and (bio)degradable); polymer blends and composites; physico-chemical characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Design, Synthesis, and Bioapplications of Multifunctional Materials” is dedicated to the latest molecular advances in the preparation, properties, and applications of multifunctional materials, highlighting concepts, function–structure relationships, knowledge-based design, and translational materials research.

Multifunctional materials are designed to fulfill multiple responsibilities through suitable combinations of different functional capabilities and present specific desirable electronic, magnetic, optical, bioactive, biodegradable, or other properties to satisfy previously unreachable performance values.

We would like to invite all scientists, researchers, and scholars in the field of multifunctional materials and applications to submit their original studies or reviews regarding interdisciplinary areas, e.g., environmental-based technologies, packaging, biomedical fields, etc. The topics that will be covered in this Special Issue will include, but are not limited to, polymers, composite materials, fibers, metals, (nano)structured materials, biological materials, and biomedical materials. All research article or review submissions should cover research at the molecular level as well as verified experiments.

We kindly encourage you to submit a manuscript regarding one of the above topics to this Special Issue.

Dr. Raluca Nicoleta Darie-Nita
Dr. Anamaria Irimia
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

  • bioactivity
  • biodegradability
  • polymers
  • composite materials
  • (nano)structured materials
  • packaging
  • biological and biomedical materials

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

30 pages, 6320 KiB  
Article
Environmental Exposure to Bisphenol A Enhances Invasiveness in Papillary Thyroid Cancer
by Chien-Yu Huang, Ren-Hao Xie, Pin-Hsuan Li, Chong-You Chen, Bo-Hong You, Yuan-Chin Sun, Chen-Kai Chou, Yen-Hsiang Chang, Wei-Che Lin and Guan-Yu Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(2), 814; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020814 - 19 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1078
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a prevalent environmental contaminant found in plastics and known for its endocrine-disrupting properties, posing risks to both human health and the environment. Despite its widespread presence, the impact of BPA on papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) progression, especially under realistic [...] Read more.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a prevalent environmental contaminant found in plastics and known for its endocrine-disrupting properties, posing risks to both human health and the environment. Despite its widespread presence, the impact of BPA on papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) progression, especially under realistic environmental conditions, is not well understood. This study examined the effects of BPA on PTC using a 3D thyroid papillary tumor spheroid model, which better mimicked the complex interactions within human tissues compared to traditional 2D models. Our findings demonstrated that BPA, at environmentally relevant concentrations, could induce significant changes in PTC cells, including a decrease in E-cadherin expression, an increase in vimentin expression, and reduced thyroglobulin (TG) secretion. These changes suggest that BPA exposure may promote epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), enhance invasiveness, and reduce cell differentiation, potentially complicating treatment, including by increasing resistance to radioiodine therapy. This research highlights BPA’s hazardous nature as an environmental contaminant and emphasizes the need for advanced in vitro models, like 3D tumor spheroids, to better assess the risks posed by such chemicals. It provides valuable insights into the environmental implications of BPA and its role in thyroid cancer progression, enhancing our understanding of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis, and Bioapplications of Multifunctional Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 6114 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Biopolymer Hydrogels Prepared with Water Exposed to Indirect Plasma Treatment
by Żaneta Król-Kilińska, Dominika Kulig, Anna Zimoch-Korzycka, Edward Reszke, Łukasz Bobak, Slaven Jurić and Andrzej Jarmoluk
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13427; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413427 - 14 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1354
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of indirect-plasma-treated water (IPTW) in the preparation of hydrogels. Three commonly used natural, biodegradable polymers with the ability to form gels were selected: gelatin, carrageenan, and sodium alginate. The pH, gelling temperature, texture profile, swelling degree, [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of indirect-plasma-treated water (IPTW) in the preparation of hydrogels. Three commonly used natural, biodegradable polymers with the ability to form gels were selected: gelatin, carrageenan, and sodium alginate. The pH, gelling temperature, texture profile, swelling degree, and color of hydrogels were evaluated, and the polymers were subjected to Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The morphology of the hydrogels was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the physiochemical properties of the water media, which were distilled water (DW) and IPTW, were analyzed. The results indicated that the gels prepared using IPTW were characterized by a lower pH, higher hardness and lower gelation temperature. After 48 h of swelling ratio (SR) testing, gelatin and alginate hydrogels made with IPTW were characterized by lower SR, while an inverse relationship was found in the case of SR of carrageenan gels. The FTIR analysis confirmed changes in the water binding ability. The use of IPTW also significantly affected the microstructure of the tested materials. A statistically significant change in the color of IPTW gel samples was also noted. The results showed that IPTW induces physicochemical changes in hydrogels, which can lead to the enhancement of their practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis, and Bioapplications of Multifunctional Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 18634 KiB  
Article
Biochar Composite with Enhanced Performance Prepared Through Microbial Modification for Water Pollutant Removal
by Bolun Zhang, Ruqi Li, Yangyang Zheng, Siji Chen, Yingjie Su, Wei Zhou, Qi Sui and Dadong Liang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(21), 11732; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252111732 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1266
Abstract
This study developed mycelial biochar composites, BQH-AN and BQH-MV, with stable physicochemical properties and significantly improved adsorption capabilities through microbial modification. The results showed that the specific surface area and porosity of BQH-AN (3547.47 m2 g−1 and 2.37 cm3 g [...] Read more.
This study developed mycelial biochar composites, BQH-AN and BQH-MV, with stable physicochemical properties and significantly improved adsorption capabilities through microbial modification. The results showed that the specific surface area and porosity of BQH-AN (3547.47 m2 g−1 and 2.37 cm3 g−1) and BQH-MV (3205.59 m2 g−1 and 2.46 cm3 g−1) were significantly higher than those of biochar BQH (2641.31 m2 g−1 and 1.81 cm3 g−1), which was produced without microbial treatment. In adsorption experiments using rhodamine B (RhB), tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), and Cr (VI), BQH-AN showed maximum adsorption capacities of 1450.79 mg g−1 for RhB, 1608.43 mg g−1 for TC, and 744.15 mg g−1 for Cr(VI). BQH-MV showed similarly strong performance, with 1329.85 mg g−1 for RhB, 1526.46 mg g−1 for TC, and 752.27 mg g−1 for Cr(VI). These values were not only higher than those of BQH but also outperformed most other biochar adsorbents. Additionally, after five reuse cycles, the pollutant removal efficiency of the mycelial biochar composites remained above 69%, demonstrating excellent regenerative ability. This study not only produced biochar with superior adsorption properties but also highlighted microbial modification as an effective way to enhance lignocellulosic biochar performance, paving the way for further biomass development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis, and Bioapplications of Multifunctional Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop