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Molecular Advancements in Functional Materials
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Molecular Advancements in Functional 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: 23 October 2026 | Viewed by 2105

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Joanna Karasiewicz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry and Technology of Silicon Compounds, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
Interests: synthesis and characterization of novel functionalized silicone compounds; use of silicone compounds as surface modifiers and study of their surface properties; amphiphilic silicone compounds and silicone surfactants and their potential applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The key to creating advanced materials with defined properties and bringing these innovative solutions to the consumer market is close cooperation between the scientific world and the industrial sector. The role of scientists is not only to conduct research aimed at developing effective methods for synthesizing compounds but also to prepare technologies that can be successfully implemented to improve the lives of every citizen. These technologies must not only be more effective than those currently available but also more economical. The main issue in the development of materials science and technology is therefore the discovery and development of new, advanced materials. However, this is not possible without the results of basic research.

Accordingly, the proposed Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences will cover the results of research on the synthesis, characterization, and properties of new polymeric compounds. Of particular value will be those results that present advances in the field of functional and useful materials that improve the comfort of life.

Dr. Joanna Karasiewicz
Guest Editor

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. 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

  • synthesis of specialty compounds
  • specialty compounds in functional materials
  • special applications: self-cleaning, anti-icing, self-healing, biocidal, etc., properties
  • special-purpose functional materials

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 5203 KB  
Article
Improved Surface Properties and Enhanced Cell Adhesion on Poly-ε-Caprolactone for Heart Valve Tissue Engineering Applications via H2-N2 Plasma Treatment
by Georg Lutter, Julia Schütrumpf, Jette Anika Seiler, Laura Jesaitis, Viktor Schneider, Holger Kersten, Mario Hasler, Lukas Cyganek, Benjamin Book, Xiling Zhang, Stanislav N. Gorb, Stephanie Sellers, David Meier, Thomas Puehler, Nina Pommert, Derk Frank and Monireh Saeid Nia
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(4), 1957; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27041957 - 18 Feb 2026
Viewed by 637
Abstract
A tissue-engineered heart valve is a fully functional tissue facilitated through the cultivation of autologous cells on appropriate scaffolds. Scaffold’s surface charge and wettability are the main factors that significantly affect cell adhesion, which is known to be favourable on hydrophilic surfaces. Moreover, [...] Read more.
A tissue-engineered heart valve is a fully functional tissue facilitated through the cultivation of autologous cells on appropriate scaffolds. Scaffold’s surface charge and wettability are the main factors that significantly affect cell adhesion, which is known to be favourable on hydrophilic surfaces. Moreover, biocompatible scaffolds that induce minimal immunogenic response are also essential for successful tissue engineering (TE). However, commonly used biocompatible polymers with preferable bulk properties lack desirable surface properties. For example, poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL), which is widely used as a scaffold in TE, is known for its satisfying structural and mechanical properties, but due to its surface characteristics, cell attachment and, consequently, cell growth on this polymer are limited. In this study, we investigated the possible effect of H2-N2 plasma treatment on the surface wettability of electrospun PCL nanofibres to see the feasibility of improvement in cell adhesion and proliferation. Our results showed an increase in the hydrophilicity of the 650 nm PCL specimens after plasma treatment, which was followed by a significant enhancement in cell attachment without altering PCL mechanical properties. Plasma surface modification is a promising approach that can be used to improve hiMSCs growth without altering the desired bulk properties and fibre morphology of 650 nm PCL specimens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advancements in Functional Materials)
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20 pages, 13282 KB  
Article
Hierarchical Superwetting ZOMO-PAA@CuC2O4 Nanorod-Coated Copper Mesh for Robust and Efficient Oily Wastewater Treatment
by Thabang Mokoba, Yiyi Lin, Hongyang Chen and Shaojun Yuan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(4), 1778; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27041778 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 526
Abstract
Efficient oil-water separation remains a major challenge in oily wastewater treatment, highlighting the need for advanced materials that combine superwettability, structural durability, and long-term recyclability. Here, we develop a hierarchical ZOMO-PAA@CuC2O4 NR@CM membrane via sequential chemical oxidation, oxalic acid etching, [...] Read more.
Efficient oil-water separation remains a major challenge in oily wastewater treatment, highlighting the need for advanced materials that combine superwettability, structural durability, and long-term recyclability. Here, we develop a hierarchical ZOMO-PAA@CuC2O4 NR@CM membrane via sequential chemical oxidation, oxalic acid etching, and spray-coating of ε-Keggin-type Na-ZnM ZOMO nanoparticles within a polyacrylic acid (PAA) matrix. The resulting architecture couples CuC2O4 nanorods with hydrophilic ZOMO-PAA coatings to achieve superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity. Structural characterization confirmed uniform nanoparticle dispersion, high crystallinity, and robust framework integrity. The membrane exhibits ultrafast water spreading (0°), underwater oil contact angles above 150°, and sliding angles as low as 4°, enabling broad-spectrum oil repellence, antifouling, and self-cleaning. The as-prepared membrane efficiently separates both surfactant-free and surfactant-stabilized emulsions, including aliphatic and aromatic oils stabilized by cationic, anionic, and non-ionic surfactants, with high water fluxes (1695–2675 L·m−2·h−1 and ~900 L·m−2·h−1, respectively) and separation efficiencies above 99.1%. The membrane further demonstrates chemical stability under acidic, alkaline, and saline conditions, alongside consistent oil–water separation behavior across multiple cycles. These findings establish ZOMO-PAA@CuC2O4 NR@CM as a robust and scalable platform for advanced oily wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advancements in Functional Materials)
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17 pages, 5082 KB  
Article
Functionalized Siloxane Coating as Protection of the Surface of Cement Composites Against Phototropic Colonization
by Joanna Karasiewicz, Marta Thomas, Paulina Nowicka-Krawczyk, Rafał M. Olszyński, Piotr K. Zakrzewski and Agnieszka Ślosarczyk
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1586; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031586 - 5 Feb 2026
Viewed by 478
Abstract
This article presents the concept of using a functionalised siloxane compound HOL9 with amphiphilic properties as a coating for cement composites to enhance their antifouling properties against algae. The biological properties of the compound were assessed based on its ability to inhibit chlorophyll [...] Read more.
This article presents the concept of using a functionalised siloxane compound HOL9 with amphiphilic properties as a coating for cement composites to enhance their antifouling properties against algae. The biological properties of the compound were assessed based on its ability to inhibit chlorophyll fluorescence intensity, which is used as an indicator of photosynthetic activity and biofilm development. The greatest decrease in algal photosynthetic activity was observed for a 10% aqueous solution of HOL9 applied by painting. In these conditions, the maximum chlFI value decreased by 97.6%. In addition, the impact of the protective coating containing HOL9 on the fundamental physical and mechanical characteristics of the cement composite, along with its resilience to frost cycling, was thoroughly investigated. The coating applied by immersion demonstrated a 50.7% strength loss after 150 freeze–thaw cycles, while the coating applied by painting exhibited a 43.8% loss. In comparison, the control samples experienced a 42.8% strength reduction. It has been demonstrated that the method of application, the modifier concentration, and the type of solvent can have a substantial impact on the protective properties of concrete. The most marked inhibition of algae photosynthetic activity was observed with a 10% aqueous solution applied by painting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advancements in Functional Materials)
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