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Structural and Functional Polymer Materials in Biomedicine
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Structural and Functional Polymer Materials in Biomedicine

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 2268

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Cristina Nistor

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polymer Department, National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry-ICECHIM, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: polymer composites; nanomaterials; nanostructured composites; nanoparticles; coatings; biomaterials; polymer science; sol-gel
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of structural and functional polymer materials in biomedicine is critical due to their broad range of applications in technology and healthcare. These materials, which encompass a wide range of synthetic and natural polymers, are essential for creating products with specific mechanical, chemical, and biological properties tailored to diverse applications. Structural polymers provide the backbone for everyday materials with strength and durability, while functional polymers enable advanced functionalities, such as responsiveness to environmental stimuli and biocompatibility. This field drives innovation in biomedical engineering, where polymers are crucial for developing drug delivery systems and tissue scaffolds. Furthermore, advancements in polymer research facilitate the creation of smart materials and nanocomposites with enhanced performance characteristics, thereby pushing the boundaries of what is possible in material science and engineering. Innovations in polymer chemistry, such as the development of biodegradable polymers and smart materials, are driven by the need for sustainable and efficient solutions across various industries.

This Special Issue, “Structural and Functional Polymer Materials in Biomedicine”, is devoted to the most recent research in biomedicine covering the latest advances in the design, synthesis, and applications of functional polymer materials. We welcome high-quality original research articles and comprehensive reviews on cutting-edge developments in this field.

Dr. Cristina Nistor
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 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

  • polymer chemistry
  • biodegradable polymers
  • responsive polymers
  • nanocomposites
  • tissue engineering
  • smart materials
  • drug delivery systems
  • molecular structure
  • material characterization
  • biocompatibility

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 30139 KiB  
Article
Design and Characterization of Novel Polymeric Hydrogels with Protein Carriers for Biomedical Use
by Magdalena Kędzierska, Magdalena Bańkosz, Katarzyna Sala, Claudia Garbowska, Oliwia Grzywacz, Wiktoria Wrzesińska, Aneta Liber-Kneć, Piotr Potemski and Bożena Tyliszczak
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010258 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1019
Abstract
Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric matrices capable of absorbing significant amounts of water or biological fluids, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and wound healing. In this study, novel hydrogels were synthesized using a photopolymerization method and modified with [...] Read more.
Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric matrices capable of absorbing significant amounts of water or biological fluids, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and wound healing. In this study, novel hydrogels were synthesized using a photopolymerization method and modified with cisplatin-loaded protein carriers, as well as natural extracts of nettle (Urtica dioica) and chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.). The basic components of the hydrogel were polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol, while polyethylene glycol diacrylate was used as a crosslinking agent and 2-methyl-2-hydroxypropiophenone as a photoinitiator. The hydrogels demonstrated high swelling capacities, with values up to 4.5 g/g in distilled water, and lower absorption in Ringer’s solution and simulated body fluid (SBF), influenced by ionic interactions. Wettability measurements indicated water contact angles between 51° and 59°, suggesting balanced hydrophilic properties conducive to biomedical applications. Surface roughness analyses revealed that roughness values decreased after incubation, with Ra values ranging from 6.73 µm before incubation to 5.94 µm after incubation for samples with the highest protein content. Incubation studies confirmed the stability of the hydrogel matrix, with no significant structural degradation observed over 20 days. However, hydrogels containing 2.0 mL of protein suspension exhibited structural damage and were excluded from further testing. The synthesized hydrogels show potential for application as carriers in localized drug delivery systems, offering a platform for future development in areas such as targeted therapy for skin cancer or other localized treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural and Functional Polymer Materials in Biomedicine)
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29 pages, 9098 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Silver- and Plant Extract-Infused Polymer Systems: Antioxidant Properties and Kinetic Release
by Magdalena Bańkosz and Bożena Tyliszczak
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 12816; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312816 - 28 Nov 2024
Viewed by 656
Abstract
This study evaluated the impact of silver particles, suspended in Arnica montana flower extract, on the physicochemical characteristics and release dynamics of antioxidant compounds in PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone)-based hydrogel systems. The hydrogels were synthesized via photopolymerization with fixed amounts of crosslinker (PEGDA) and photoinitiator, [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the impact of silver particles, suspended in Arnica montana flower extract, on the physicochemical characteristics and release dynamics of antioxidant compounds in PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone)-based hydrogel systems. The hydrogels were synthesized via photopolymerization with fixed amounts of crosslinker (PEGDA) and photoinitiator, while the concentration of the silver-infused extract was systematically varied. Key properties, including the density, porosity, surface roughness, swelling capacity, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), were quantitatively analyzed. The results demonstrated that increasing the silver content reduced the hydrogel density from 0.6669 g/cm3 to 0.2963 g/cm3 and increased the porosity from 4% to 11.04%. The surface roughness parameters (Ra) rose from 8.42 µm to 16.33 µm, while the WVTR increased significantly from 65.169 g/m2·h to 93.772 g/m2·h. These structural changes directly influenced the release kinetics of antioxidant compounds, with kinetic modeling revealing silver-dependent variations in the evaluated release mechanisms. This innovative approach of integrating silver particles and plant-derived antioxidants into hydrogels highlights a novel pathway for tailoring material properties. The observed enhanced porosity and moisture regulation underscore the hydrogels’ potential for biomedical applications, particularly in wound care, where controlled moisture and antioxidant delivery are critical. These findings provide new insights into how silver particles modulate hydrogel structures and functionalities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural and Functional Polymer Materials in Biomedicine)
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