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Polymers, Biopolymers and Their Modifications: Spectroscopic/Fluorescence Properties

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 3807

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Biophysics, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
2. ECOTECH-COMPLEX—Analytical and Programme Centre for Advanced Environmentally-Friendly Technologies, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Głęboka 39, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
Interests: dual fluorescence effects – ESIPT and AIE; spectroscopy and biology of compositions showing synergism; molecular spectroscopy; transition metal complexes; 1,3,4-thiadiazole; coumarin; modified lipid (liposomal) systems; micellar systems in selected detergents modified with small molecule additives; hydrogen bonding; intermolecular interactions; solvent effects; PVA; fluorescence properties of solid and crystalline systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Cell Biology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Interests: cell biology; molecular spectroscopies; monomolecular layers; bioactive molecules; synergistic interactions of the drugs; antifungal drugs

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Guest Editor
Department of Polymer Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, M. Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
Interests: synthesis of new monomers and polymers; chemical modification of synthetic and natural polymers; synthesis of biocomposites; application of ligno-cellulosic materials in polymer chemistry; synthesis of porous polymers in form of microspheres; investigations of the porous structure of polymeric materials; synthesis of novel polymer-based adsorbents for water treatment; photochemistry; physico-chemical, thermal and mechanical studies of polymers; synthesis of polymeric blends; synthesis of hybrid materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The excessive volume of produced plastics with various origins present today means that we are increasingly faced with the problem of environmental pollution, which is growing at an incredible pace. This creates the need to search for novel materials that can replace those currently employed by humans, and simultaneously find materials that have comparable or enhanced photophysical and physicochemical properties. Among the most promising materials are polymer derivatives, which have been modified with additives of natural origin to become biopolymers. As is evident in the data found in the latest literature, newly obtained materials often have far superior physicochemical and other properties compared to previously utilized materials. This creates new methods for their development and application in practically every area of human life. We can utilize them in new biodegradable packaging, reflective materials, surface protection materials and UV absorbers, among others.

The latest publication trends show an elevated interest in polymeric and biopolymer materials, with the addition of various molecules. The additives employed can significantly alter the photophysical or physicochemical properties of the obtained materials, thus dramatically increasing their applicative potential. The development of modern spectroscopic techniques, particularly fluorescence, provides us with a significant opportunity to explore the research topic.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms that enhance their properties offers an extraordinary opportunity to solve the escalating issues caused by the production of materials that are difficult to recycle and pollute our environment uncontrollably. Closing any molecule in the biopolymer system facilitates the access of molecules to triplet states, which launches a new emission route and thus promotes the novel application of known materials.

This Special Issue is primarily dedicated to topics related to the application of polymers and biopolymers modified with the addition of various compounds, both known and newly synthesized.

We are particularly interested in the fluorescent and phosphorescent effects of molecules enclosed in rigid polymer matrices. Enclosed molecules in a rigid polymer/biopolymer matrix possess properties that are unattainable in solvent systems or aqueous solutions, and this is of particular interest to us. We strongly encourage you to submit papers related to the above-mentioned topics in combination with the utilization of nanoparticles and other modern materials.

We are particularly interested in the effects of room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emission. In this Special Issue, we welcome original papers on the described subject and review papers summarizing achievements in the field so far; papers that present spectroscopic methods at the most basic to the most advanced level; DFT, [TD]DFT and crystallographic results supported by calculations in the field of quantum chemistry; and the results of biological tests on the molecules placed in biofilms in the domain of antifungal activity. We support works in which the authors try to combine several spectroscopic properties of the obtained system and present an interesting theoretical discussion. Therefore, we encourage you to submit experimental spectroscopic, theoretical and biological papers in this field.

Dr. Arkadiusz Matwijczuk
Prof. Dr. Mariusz Gagoś
Dr. Beata Podkościelna
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • polymers and biopolymers
  • small molecule additives (various small molecules e.g., thiadiazoles, coumarins, hybrid systems of small molecules, molecular sensors and other compounds that will change the photophysical properties of the obtained biopolymer films)
  • fluorescent properties of films made of polymers and biopolymers
  • phosphorescence - room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emission
  • other methods of phosphorescence induction than RTP
  • biological tests of antifungal and other properties of the compounds used and the films obtained molecular spectroscopy (electronic absorption and emission, fluorescence lifetime TCSPC, molecular electronic transition spectroscopy, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), NMR and NMR imaging spectroscopy, SPR, FLIM, Confocal Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy and other spectroscopic methods); and other spectroscopic methods
  • various nanoparticle-based additives
  • fluorescent and phosphorescent effects in solvents, amorphous forms and crystals
  • quantum-mechanical calculations for the obtained systems/compositions/films
  • molecular aggregation changing the fluorescent and phosphorescent properties of the tested systems

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 18233 KiB  
Article
Structure and Properties of Polylactide Composites with TiO2–Lignin Hybrid Fillers
by Aleksandra Grząbka-Zasadzińska, Agata Piątek, Łukasz Klapiszewski and Sławomir Borysiak
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4398; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084398 - 16 Apr 2024
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Abstract
The research presented in this article focuses on the use of inorganic–organic material, based on titanium dioxide and lignin, as a filler for polylactide (PLA) biocomposites. To date, no research has been conducted to understand the impact of hybrid fillers consisting of TiO [...] Read more.
The research presented in this article focuses on the use of inorganic–organic material, based on titanium dioxide and lignin, as a filler for polylactide (PLA) biocomposites. To date, no research has been conducted to understand the impact of hybrid fillers consisting of TiO2 and lignin on the supermolecular structure and crystallization abilities of polylactide. Polymer composites containing 1, 3 or 5 wt.% of hybrid filler or TiO2 were assessed in terms of their structure, morphology, and thermal properties. Mechanical properties, including tensile testing, bending, impact strength, and hardness, were discussed. The hybrid filler is characterized by a very good electrokinetic stability at pH greater than 3–4. The addition of all fillers led to a small decrease in the glass transition temperature but, most importantly, the addition of 1% of the hybrid filler to the PLA matrix increased the degree of crystallinity of the material by up to 20%. Microscopic studies revealed differences in the crystallization behavior and nucleation ability of fillers. The use of hybrid filler resulted in higher nucleation density and shorter induction time than in unfilled PLA or PLA with only TiO2. The introduction of small amounts of hybrid filler also affected the mechanical properties of the composites, causing an increase in bending strength and hardness. This information may be useful from a technological process standpoint and may also help to increase the range of applicability of biobased materials. Full article
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Review

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28 pages, 4177 KiB  
Review
DNA Double Strand Break and Response Fluorescent Assays: Choices and Interpretation
by Jake Atkinson, Eva Bezak, Hien Le and Ivan Kempson
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(4), 2227; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25042227 - 13 Feb 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2504
Abstract
Accurately characterizing DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) and understanding the DNA damage response (DDR) is crucial for assessing cellular genotoxicity, maintaining genomic integrity, and advancing gene editing technologies. Immunofluorescence-based techniques have proven to be invaluable for quantifying and visualizing DSB repair, providing valuable insights [...] Read more.
Accurately characterizing DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) and understanding the DNA damage response (DDR) is crucial for assessing cellular genotoxicity, maintaining genomic integrity, and advancing gene editing technologies. Immunofluorescence-based techniques have proven to be invaluable for quantifying and visualizing DSB repair, providing valuable insights into cellular repair processes. However, the selection of appropriate markers for analysis can be challenging due to the intricate nature of DSB repair mechanisms, often leading to ambiguous interpretations. This comprehensively summarizes the significance of immunofluorescence-based techniques, with their capacity for spatiotemporal visualization, in elucidating complex DDR processes. By evaluating the strengths and limitations of different markers, we identify where they are most relevant chronologically from DSB detection to repair, better contextualizing what each assay represents at a molecular level. This is valuable for identifying biases associated with each assay and facilitates accurate data interpretation. This review aims to improve the precision of DSB quantification, deepen the understanding of DDR processes, assay biases, and pathway choices, and provide practical guidance on marker selection. Each assay offers a unique perspective of the underlying processes, underscoring the need to select markers that are best suited to specific research objectives. Full article
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