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Biopolymers and Biohybrids for Human Health

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 1574

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Deparment of Chemical Engineering, University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
Interests: biomaterials; bionanohydrids; biomass engineering; biostructures; polysaccharides
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biopolymers are polymeric biomolecules that are essential for creating and sustaining life. Proteins, polysaccharides, glycopolymers, and polynucleotides are examples of biopolymer constituents of biological cells. Enzymes are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions and key actors in cell metabolism. Biopolymers are widely used in tissue engineering, pharmaceuticals, drug encapsulation and delivery, and many other biomedical applications. Biopolymers are also components of food and numerous formulations used in cosmetics and personal care. Hybridization of biopolymers with synthetic polymers and inorganics creates biohybrids with exquisite, dynamic, stimuli-responsive properties. Shaping of biopolymers and biohybrids into highly engineered 2D and 3D architectures using different processing techniques enhances functionality and smart capabilities. This Special Issue focuses on biopolymer and biohybrid materials for advanced applications in drug delivery, pharmaceuticals, tissue engineering, wound healing, food and nutrition, cosmetics, personal care, wearables, sensors, and other areas related to human health. We invite submissions of original research manuscripts reporting advances in functionalization and shaping of biopolymers and biohybrids with chemical, physical, or biochemical methods to create high-performance advanced materials for diverse applications in human health.

Prof. Dr. Pedro Fardim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • pharmaceuticals
  • tissue engineering
  • drug delivery
  • wearables
  • sensors

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 4197 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Lyocell Fibers with Inherent Antibacterial, Antiviral and Antifungal Properties
by Frank Wendler, Thomas Schulze, Janine Bauer and Benjamin Redlingshöfer
Molecules 2024, 29(9), 2054; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29092054 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1040
Abstract
Functional Lyocell fibers gain interest in garments and technical textiles, especially when equipped with inherently bioactive features. In this study, Lyocell fibers are modified with an ion exchange resin and subsequently loaded with copper (Cu) ions. The modified Lyocell process enables high amounts [...] Read more.
Functional Lyocell fibers gain interest in garments and technical textiles, especially when equipped with inherently bioactive features. In this study, Lyocell fibers are modified with an ion exchange resin and subsequently loaded with copper (Cu) ions. The modified Lyocell process enables high amounts of the resin additive (>10%) through intensive dispersion and subsequently, high uptake of 2.7% Cu throughout the whole cross-section of the fiber. Fixation by Na2CO3 increases the washing and dyeing resistance considerably. Cu content after dyeing compared to the original fiber value amounts to approx. 65% for reactive, 75% for direct, and 77% for HT dyeing, respectively. Even after 50 household washes, a recovery of 43% for reactive, 47% for direct and 26% for HT dyeing is proved. XRD measurements reveal ionic bonding of Cu fixation inside the cellulose/ion exchange resin composite. A combination of the fixation process with a change in Cu valence state by glucose/NaOH leads to the formation of Cu2O crystallites, which is proved by XRD. Cu fiber shows a strong antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia bacteria, even after 50 household washing cycles of both >5 log CFU. In nonwoven blends with a share of only 6% Cu fiber, a strong antimicrobial (CFU > log 5) and full antiviral effectiveness (>log 4) was received even after 50 washing cycles. Time-dependent measurements already show strong antiviral behavior after 30 s. Further, the fibers show an increased die off of the fungal isolate Candida auris with CFU log 4.4, and nonwovens made from 6% Cu fiber share a CFU log of 1.7. Findings of the study predestines the fiber for advanced textile processing and applications in areas with high germ loads. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymers and Biohybrids for Human Health)
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