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Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Polymer-Based Materials, 2nd Edition
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Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Polymer-Based Materials, 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 3515

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nadya Vasileva Dencheva

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Guest Editor
IPC-Institute for Polymers and Composites, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Azurem, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
Interests: polymer chemistry; activated anionic polymerization; reactive microencapsulatioin; hybrid polymer powders; molecular imprinting; enzyme immobilization and compartmentalization; polymer-assisted multienzyme systems; biocatalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zlatan Denchev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
IPC-Institute for Polymers and Composites, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Azurem, 4800-058 Guimaraes, Portugal
Interests: polymer chemistry; reactive microencapsulation; reactive processing; polymer micro- and nanocomposites; polymer crystallization; synchrotron wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering of polymers; spectroscopy of polymers; mechanical testing of polymer composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Numerous commodities and advanced materials of industrial importance used for structural or functional applications are composed of polymers as their basic constituent. Generally, polymer-based materials (PBMs) contain two or more phases or components with properly chosen morphologies and specific interfacial bonding. The aim of this combination is to achieve the desired set of properties necessary for a certain area of application. Examples could be all types of polymer composites, in which a polymer matrix is mechanically reinforced by organic or inorganic, macro- or microsized, variously shaped structures. Furthermore, polymer hybrids characterized by interactions between their constituents at the submicron and molecular levels exist, thereby producing properties not existing in either of them. PBMs may be based on natural, synthetic, or recycled materials, as well as on conjugates between polymers and biologically active molecules, e.g., proteins, enzymes, DNA, and RNA, among others. The areas of application of PBMs are abundant and vast, stretching from self-cleaning, self-healing, conductive, magnetic, and energy-shielding polymers to polymer-supported biocatalysts, functional polymer hydrogels, and drug-delivery and food-stabilizing systems.   

Recent advances in polymerization chemistry, polymer assembly, and conventional and non-conventional polymer processing techniques have resulted in a great number of PBMs with tailored properties and potential applications at various scales. This is achieved via the careful control of the morphology and the structure–properties relationship, requiring advanced structural characterization. 

The aim of this Special Issue of Molecules is to present a selection of research papers and reviews exemplifying the new trends in the synthesis, characterization, and application of PBMs. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Synthesis of polymer-based materials with tailored properties;
  • Structure–properties relationship in polymer-based materials;
  • Advanced characterization of polymer-based materials;
  • Non-conventional processing of polymer-based materials;
  • Polymer-based materials with natural and/or biodegradable constituents;
  • Polymer-based materials as supports for bioactive molecules;
  • Applications of polymer-based materials in biology, medicine, or food industries;
  • Stimuli-responsive polymer-based materials;
  • Polymer-based materials in engineering and electronics.

Dr. Nadya Vasileva Dencheva
Dr. Zlatan Denchev
Guest Editors

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. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • synthetic, natural, and sustainable polymer-based materials
  • polymer composites
  • polymer hybrids
  • multifunctional and smart polymer materials
  • structure–properties relationship in polymer systems
  • advanced characterization of polymer multiphase systems
  • polymer synthesis and reactive processing
  • polymer-based supports for bioactive molecules
  • applications of polymer-based materials
  • hydrophilic polymer systems

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 5653 KiB  
Article
Implementation of Machine Learning in Flat Die Extrusion of Polymers
by Nickolas D. Polychronopoulos, Ioannis Sarris and John Vlachopoulos
Molecules 2025, 30(9), 1879; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30091879 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 580
Abstract
Achieving a uniform thickness and defect-free production in the flat die extrusion of polymer sheets and films is a major challenge. Dies are designed for one extrusion scenario, for a polymer grade with specified rheological behavior, and for a given throughput rate. The [...] Read more.
Achieving a uniform thickness and defect-free production in the flat die extrusion of polymer sheets and films is a major challenge. Dies are designed for one extrusion scenario, for a polymer grade with specified rheological behavior, and for a given throughput rate. The extrusion of different polymer grades and at different flow rates requires trial-and-error procedures. This study investigated the application of machine learning (ML) to provide guidance for the extrusion of sheets and films with a reduced thickness, non-uniformities, and without defects. A dataset of 200 cases was generated using computer simulation software for flat die extrusion. The dataset encompassed variations in die geometry by varying the gap under a restrictor, polymer rheological and thermophysical properties, and processing conditions, including throughput rate and temperatures. The dataset was used to train and evaluate the following three powerful machine learning (ML) algorithms: Random Forest (RF), XGBoost, and Support Vector Regression (SVR). The ML models were trained to predict thickness variations, pressure drops, and the lowest wall shear rate (targets). Using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis provided valuable insights into the influence of input features, highlighting the critical roles of polymer rheology, throughput rate, and the gap beneath the restrictor in determining targets. This ML-based methodology has the potential to reduce or even eliminate the use of trial and error procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Polymer-Based Materials, 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 3265 KiB  
Article
Effect of Silane Coupling Agents on Structure and Properties of Carbon Fiber/Silicon Rubber Composites Investigated by Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy
by Jie Gao, Jiaming Mei, Houhua Xiong and Xiaobing Han
Molecules 2025, 30(8), 1658; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30081658 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 400
Abstract
The type of silane coupling agent (SCA) has an important influence on carbon fiber (CF) modification efficiency and the properties of the obtained CF-based polymer composites. To quantitatively reveal the effects of SCA type, three kinds of SCA (γ-aminopropyl triethoxylsilane, γ-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxylsilane, and [...] Read more.
The type of silane coupling agent (SCA) has an important influence on carbon fiber (CF) modification efficiency and the properties of the obtained CF-based polymer composites. To quantitatively reveal the effects of SCA type, three kinds of SCA (γ-aminopropyl triethoxylsilane, γ-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxylsilane, and γ-methacryloxy propyl trimethoxylsilane)-modified CF-incorporated silicon rubber (SR) composites were prepared. The microstructure (free volume characteristic and interfacial interaction) of the obtained CF/SR composites was revealed by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). Based on the results of mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties, the relationship between microstructure and performance was established. This investigation provides a powerful approach to the quantitative description of polymer composite microstructures, which will benefit the construction of structure–property relationships and high-performance polymer composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Polymer-Based Materials, 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 3241 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Characterization of Multilayer 3D Chiral Polymers with Enhanced Optical Properties
by Sai Zhang, Xiaobei Jin, Daixiang Chen, Qingzheng Xu, Tao Wang, Xiuyuan Qin, Jialing Mao, Yue Zhang, Shenghu Yan and Guigen Li
Molecules 2025, 30(7), 1567; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30071567 - 31 Mar 2025
Viewed by 294
Abstract
This study reports the synthesis of novel multilayer 3D chiral polymers using 2,2′-(2,7-Naphthalenediyl)bis[4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane] and 1,8-dibronaphthalene along with its derivatives as key precursors. Comprehensive characterization was performed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), photoluminescence, ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), [...] Read more.
This study reports the synthesis of novel multilayer 3D chiral polymers using 2,2′-(2,7-Naphthalenediyl)bis[4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane] and 1,8-dibronaphthalene along with its derivatives as key precursors. Comprehensive characterization was performed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), photoluminescence, ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarimetry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Notably, the polymers exhibited remarkable aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and aggregation-induced polarization (AIP) phenomena, revealing enhanced luminescence and optical activity in aggregated states. These findings underscore the potential of these chiral polymers for applications in optoelectronics and advanced sensing technologies, highlighting the intricate relationship between molecular structure and optical behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Polymer-Based Materials, 2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 4085 KiB  
Article
Polyamide Microparticles with Immobilized Enological Pectinase as Efficient Biocatalysts for Wine Clarification: The Role of the Polymer Support
by Sandra C. Oliveira, Samuel M. Araújo, Nadya V. Dencheva and Zlatan Z. Denchev
Molecules 2025, 30(1), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30010114 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 899
Abstract
Free pectinase is commonly employed as a biocatalyst in wine clarification; however, its removal, recovery, and reuse are not feasible. To address these limitations, this study focuses on the immobilization of a commercial pectinolytic preparation (Pec) onto highly porous polymer microparticles (MPs). Seven [...] Read more.
Free pectinase is commonly employed as a biocatalyst in wine clarification; however, its removal, recovery, and reuse are not feasible. To address these limitations, this study focuses on the immobilization of a commercial pectinolytic preparation (Pec) onto highly porous polymer microparticles (MPs). Seven microparticulate polyamide (PA) supports, namely PA4, PA6, PA12 (with and without magnetic properties), and the copolymeric PA612 MP, were synthesized through activated anionic ring-opening polymerization of various lactams. Pectinase was non-covalently immobilized on these supports by adsorption, forming Pec@PA conjugates. Comparative activity and kinetic studies revealed that the Pec@PA12 conjugate exhibited more than twice the catalytic efficiency of the free enzyme, followed by Pec@PA6-Fe and Pec@PA4-Fe. All Pec@PA complexes were tested in the clarification of industrial rosé must, demonstrating similar or better performance compared to the free enzyme. Some immobilized biocatalysts supported up to seven consecutive reuse cycles, maintaining up to 50% of their initial activity and achieving complete clarification within 3–30 h across three consecutive cycles of application. These findings highlight the potential for industrial applications of noncovalently immobilized pectinase on various polyamide microparticles, with possibilities for customization of the conjugates’ properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Polymer-Based Materials, 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 3940 KiB  
Article
Reaction of Lactone-Containing Poly(benzofuran-co-arylacetic acid) with Diamines to Cross-Linked Products of Improved Thermal Conductivity
by Alexandrina Nan, Xenia Filip and Jürgen Liebscher
Molecules 2024, 29(24), 6020; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29246020 - 20 Dec 2024
Viewed by 583
Abstract
The recently developed phenoplast-related polymer, poly(benzofuran-co-arylacetic acid), presents a versatile molecular structure containing lactone and carboxylic acid functionalities that offer significant flexibility in creating cured materials with tailored properties for diverse applications, wherein also the thermal conductivity is an important factor. [...] Read more.
The recently developed phenoplast-related polymer, poly(benzofuran-co-arylacetic acid), presents a versatile molecular structure containing lactone and carboxylic acid functionalities that offer significant flexibility in creating cured materials with tailored properties for diverse applications, wherein also the thermal conductivity is an important factor. This study analyses the possibility of forming amide moieties of poly(benzofuran-co-arylacetic acid) with diamines resulting in cross-linked products in order to control its thermal properties. The cross-linking process is achieved by utilizing three distinct diamines, 1,6-diaminohexane, p-xylylenediamine, and 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine, each possessing different degrees of polarity, flexibility, and reactivity. The resulting cross-linked zwitterionic poly(benzofuran-co-arylacetic acids) were structurally and morphologically characterized. By means of measuring the thermal conductivity and diffusivity of the materials, the possibility of adjusting the thermal properties of the cross-linked products by choosing appropriate linkers was determined. A case was developed where the thermal conductivity and diffusivity increased with temperature, a hardly found property in the cross-linking of polymers being important for many practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Polymer-Based Materials, 2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 1431 KiB  
Review
Biomedical Application of Nanogels: From Cancer to Wound Healing
by Mohammad Zafaryab and Komal Vig
Molecules 2025, 30(10), 2144; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30102144 - 13 May 2025
Viewed by 328
Abstract
Nanogels are polymer-based, crosslinked hydrogel particles on the nanometer scale. Nanogels developed from synthetic and natural polymers have gathered a great deal of attention in industry and scientific society due to having an increased surface area, softness, flexibility, absorption, and drug loading ability, [...] Read more.
Nanogels are polymer-based, crosslinked hydrogel particles on the nanometer scale. Nanogels developed from synthetic and natural polymers have gathered a great deal of attention in industry and scientific society due to having an increased surface area, softness, flexibility, absorption, and drug loading ability, as well as their mimicking the environment of a tissue. Nanogels having biocompatibility, nontoxic and biodegradable properties with exceptional design, fabrication, and coating facilities may be used for a variety of different biomedical applications, such as drug delivery and therapy, tissue engineering, and bioimaging. Nanogels fabricated by chemical crosslinking and physical self-assembly displayed the ability to encapsulate therapeutics, including hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and small molecules, proteins, peptides, RNA and DNA sequences, and even ultrasmall nanoparticles within their three-dimensional polymer networks. One of the many drug delivery methods being investigated as a practical option for targeted delivery of drugs for cancer treatment is nanogels. The delivery of DNA and anticancer drugs like doxorubicin, epirubicin, and paclitaxel has been eased by polymeric nanogels. Stimuli-responsive PEGylated nanogels have been reported as smart nanomedicines for cancer diagnostics and therapy. Another promising biomedical application of nanogels is wound healing. Wounds are injuries to living tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impact. There are numerous nanogels having different polymer compositions that have been reported to enhance the wound healing process, such as hyaluronan, poly-L-lysine, and berberine. When antimicrobial resistance is present, wound healing becomes a complicated process. Researchers are looking for novel alternative approaches, as foreign microorganisms in wounds are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Silver nanogels have been reported as a popular antimicrobial choice, as silver has been used as an antimicrobial throughout a prolonged period. Lignin-incorporated nanogels and lidocaine nanogels have also been reported as an antioxidant wound-dressing material that can aid in wound healing. In this review, we will summarize recent progress in biomedical applications for various nanogels, with a prime focus on cancer and wound healing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Polymer-Based Materials, 2nd Edition)
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