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Novel Bioactive and Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
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Novel Bioactive and Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for Biomedical 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 February 2025 | Viewed by 13408

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Raluca Nicoleta Darie-Nita

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
Dr. Maria Râpă

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Processing of Metallic Materials and Environment Engineering, National University of Science and Technology Politechnica Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: biodegradable polymers; polymer-processing technologies; characterization; applications of biobased materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to their advantages, such as their processing and handling versatility, adaptability, mechanical properties comparable to those of native tissues, degradability, and biocompatibility, polymeric materials have become essential components for biomedical applications, indispensable for the success of new therapeutic systems, playing the role of matrix support both for cells (particularly for tissue engineering) and for biologically active substances such as growth factors, antibiotics, or antitumor agents. Improving the biocompatibility and functionality of polymeric materials, as well as the controlled degradation of polymeric architectures that come into direct contact with biological tissues, is required, especially for synthetic or non-polar polymers. Therefore, new methods and the design of innovative multifunctional polymeric materials are required to undergo an additional investigation.

This Special Issue invites researchers, bioengineers, academicians, and physicians to submit original papers and reviews reporting the most valuable findings on biodegradable and bioactive polymeric materials with biological functionality and remarkable compatibility for biomedical application domains. Developments related to the synthesis, characterization, properties (antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, degradability, etc.), and clinical applications of bioactive polymer materials would be advantageous for actors working in the area of the interaction between polymers and cells.

Dr. Raluca Nicoleta Darie-Nita
Dr. Maria Râpă
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

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Keywords

  • bioactive properties
  • polymeric materials
  • composite
  • blend
  • biomedical applications
  • biodegradable
  • medicinal plants
  • antibacterial agents
  • melt processing
  • electrospinning

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 9191 KiB  
Article
Reverse Gradient Distributions of Drug and Polymer Molecules within Electrospun Core–Shell Nanofibers for Sustained Release
by Yaoning Chen, Wenjian Gong, Zhiyuan Zhang, Jianfeng Zhou, Deng-Guang Yu and Tao Yi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9524; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179524 - 1 Sep 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1853
Abstract
Core–shell nanostructures are powerful platforms for the development of novel nanoscale drug delivery systems with sustained drug release profiles. Coaxial electrospinning is facile and convenient for creating medicated core–shell nanostructures with elaborate designs with which the sustained-release behaviors of drug molecules can be [...] Read more.
Core–shell nanostructures are powerful platforms for the development of novel nanoscale drug delivery systems with sustained drug release profiles. Coaxial electrospinning is facile and convenient for creating medicated core–shell nanostructures with elaborate designs with which the sustained-release behaviors of drug molecules can be intentionally adjusted. With resveratrol (RES) as a model for a poorly water-soluble drug and cellulose acetate (CA) and PVP as polymeric carriers, a brand-new electrospun core–shell nanostructure was fabricated in this study. The guest RES and the host CA molecules were designed to have a reverse gradient distribution within the core–shell nanostructures. Scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope evaluations verified that these nanofibers had linear morphologies, without beads or spindles, and an obvious core–shell double-chamber structure. The X-ray diffraction patterns and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic results indicated that the involved components were highly compatible and presented in an amorphous molecular distribution state. In vitro dissolution tests verified that the new core–shell structures were able to prevent the initial burst release, extend the continuous-release time period, and reduce the negative tailing-off release effect, thus ensuring a better sustained-release profile than the traditional blended drug-loaded nanofibers. The mechanism underlying the influence of the new core–shell structure with an RES/CA reverse gradient distribution on the behaviors of RES release is proposed. Based on this proof-of-concept demonstration, a series of advanced functional nanomaterials can be similarly developed based on the gradient distributions of functional molecules within electrospun multi-chamber nanostructures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Bioactive and Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications)
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18 pages, 2749 KiB  
Article
Bioactive and Elastic Emulsion Electrospun DegraPol Tubes Delivering IGF-1 for Tendon Rupture Repair
by Julia Rieber, Gabriella Meier-Bürgisser, Iris Miescher, Franz E. Weber, Petra Wolint, Yang Yao, Esteban Ongini, Athanasios Milionis, Jess G. Snedeker, Maurizio Calcagni and Johanna Buschmann
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(12), 10272; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241210272 - 17 Jun 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1661
Abstract
Tendon injuries can result in two major drawbacks. Adhesions to the surrounding tissue may limit the range of motion, while fibrovascular scar formation can lead to poor biomechanical outcomes. Prosthetic devices may help to mitigate those problems. Emulsion electrospinning was used to develop [...] Read more.
Tendon injuries can result in two major drawbacks. Adhesions to the surrounding tissue may limit the range of motion, while fibrovascular scar formation can lead to poor biomechanical outcomes. Prosthetic devices may help to mitigate those problems. Emulsion electrospinning was used to develop a novel three-layer tube based on the polymer DegraPol (DP), with incorporated insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the middle layer. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to assess the fiber diameter in IGF-1 containing pure DP meshes. Further characterization was performed with Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, and water contact angle, as well as through the assessment of mechanical properties and release kinetics from ELISA, and the bioactivity of IGF-1 by qPCR of collagen I, ki67, and tenomodulin in rabbit Achilles tenocytes. The IGF-1-containing tubes exhibited a sustained release of the growth factor up to 4 days and showed bioactivity by significantly upregulated ki67 and tenomodulin gene expression. Moreover, they proved to be mechanically superior to pure DP tubes (significantly higher fracture strain, failure stress, and elastic modulus). The novel three-layer tubes intended to be applied over conventionally sutured tendons after a rupture may help accelerate the healing process. The release of IGF-1 stimulates proliferation and matrix synthesis of cells at the repair site. In addition, adhesion formation to surrounding tissue can be reduced due to the physical barrier. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Bioactive and Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications)
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19 pages, 4350 KiB  
Article
Bioactive and Physico-Chemical Assessment of Innovative Poly(lactic acid)-Based Biocomposites Containing Sage, Coconut Oil, and Modified Nanoclay
by Raluca Nicoleta Darie-Niță, Anamaria Irimia, Florica Doroftei, Laura Mihaela Stefan, Andrzej Iwanczuk and Agnieszka Trusz
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3646; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043646 - 11 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2858
Abstract
The bioactivity of the versatile biodegradable biopolymer poly(lactic acid) (PLA) can be obtained by combining it with natural or synthetic compounds. This paper deals with the preparation of bioactive formulations involving the melt processing of PLA loaded with a medicinal plant (sage) and [...] Read more.
The bioactivity of the versatile biodegradable biopolymer poly(lactic acid) (PLA) can be obtained by combining it with natural or synthetic compounds. This paper deals with the preparation of bioactive formulations involving the melt processing of PLA loaded with a medicinal plant (sage) and an edible oil (coconut oil), together with an organomodifed montmorillonite nanoclay, and an assessment of the resulting structural, surface, morphological, mechanical, and biological properties of the biocomposites. By modulating the components, the prepared biocomposites show flexibility, both antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, as well as a high degree of cytocompatibility, being capable to induce the cell adherence and proliferation on their surface. Overall, the obtained results suggest that the developed PLA-based biocomposites could potentially be used as bioactive materials in medical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Bioactive and Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications)
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Review

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20 pages, 2800 KiB  
Review
Pullulan-Based Hydrogels in Wound Healing and Skin Tissue Engineering Applications: A Review
by Collins N. Elangwe, Svetlana N. Morozkina, Roman O. Olekhnovich, Victoria O. Polyakova, Alexander Krasichkov, Piotr K. Yablonskiy and Mayya V. Uspenskaya
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4962; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054962 - 4 Mar 2023
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 6017
Abstract
Wound healing is a complex process of overlapping phases with the primary aim of the creation of new tissues and restoring their anatomical functions. Wound dressings are fabricated to protect the wound and accelerate the healing process. Biomaterials used to design dressing of [...] Read more.
Wound healing is a complex process of overlapping phases with the primary aim of the creation of new tissues and restoring their anatomical functions. Wound dressings are fabricated to protect the wound and accelerate the healing process. Biomaterials used to design dressing of wounds could be natural or synthetic as well as the combination of both materials. Polysaccharide polymers have been used to fabricate wound dressings. The applications of biopolymers, such as chitin, gelatin, pullulan, and chitosan, have greatly expanded in the biomedical field due to their non-toxic, antibacterial, biocompatible, hemostatic, and nonimmunogenic properties. Most of these polymers have been used in the form of foams, films, sponges, and fibers in drug carrier devices, skin tissue scaffolds, and wound dressings. Currently, special focus has been directed towards the fabrication of wound dressings based on synthesized hydrogels using natural polymers. The high-water retention capacity of hydrogels makes them potent candidates for wound dressings as they provide a moist environment in the wound and remove excess wound fluid, thereby accelerating wound healing. The incorporation of pullulan with different, naturally occurring polymers, such as chitosan, in wound dressings is currently attracting much attention due to the antimicrobial, antioxidant and nonimmunogenic properties. Despite the valuable properties of pullulan, it also has some limitations, such as poor mechanical properties and high cost. However, these properties are improved by blending it with different polymers. Additionally, more investigations are required to obtain pullulan derivatives with suitable properties in high quality wound dressings and tissue engineering applications. This review summarizes the properties and wound dressing applications of naturally occurring pullulan, then examines it in combination with other biocompatible polymers, such chitosan and gelatin, and discusses the facile approaches for oxidative modification of pullulan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Bioactive and Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications)
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