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Polymers
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Polymers in Tissue Regeneration and Antimicrobial Strategies: Innovations and Applications
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Polymers in Tissue Regeneration and Antimicrobial Strategies: Innovations and Applications

A Special Issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360) belonging to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 2495

Editors

Dr. Alberto Falco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Aquaculture "Torre de la Sal" (IATS-CSIC) Torre de la Sal, s/n 12595, Ribera de Cabanes, Castellón, Spain
Interests: antimicrobial peptides; antivirals; viruses; interferon; autophagy; nanofibers; antimicrobials; polymeric nanomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ling Ding

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
Interests: hydrogel; polymer, enzyme; tissue regeneration; antibacterial; nanomedicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers have become indispensable cornerstones in tissue regeneration and antimicrobial medicines. Their tailor-made architectures, excellent biocompatibility, and intrinsic capacity for multifunctional synergy now provide a transformative platform that can simultaneously reconstruct complex tissue defects and thwart microbial threats. This Special Issue spotlights convergent innovations where polymer science meets regenerative medicine and antimicrobial strategies. Topics span biodegradable scaffolds that orchestrate the cellular microenvironment, smart stimuli-responsive systems for the on-demand delivery of bioactive cues, surface-functionalized polymers that erect antimicrobial barriers, and green polymer platforms derived from natural or sustainable feedstocks. We invite contributions that advance polymer synthesis and micro-/nano-structural characterization, elucidate cell–material–microbe interfacial mechanisms, and co-design antimicrobial and pro-regenerative functions, showcasing cutting-edge progress from fundamental discovery to clinical translation. Collectively, these works will highlight the fertile frontier created by the fusion of polymer science and biomedicine.

Dr. Alberto Falco
Dr. Ling Ding
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 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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers 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

  • polymers
  • tissue regeneration
  • antimicrobial
  • scaffolds
  • cell–material–microbe interfacial

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2769 KB  
Article
Cellulose-Based Wet Wipes Combining Essential Oils and Sodium Hypochlorite: A Sustainable Strategy for Bacterial Control
by Zorica Tomičić, Milorad Miljić, Ljubiša Šarić, Dragana Tomanić, Miloš Pelić, Milica Nićetin and Ružica Tomičić
Polymers 2026, 18(19), 2406; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18192406 - 2 Oct 2026
Viewed by 207
Abstract
The development of antimicrobial formulations for biodegradable wet wipes is of increasing interest for more sustainable hygiene applications. Objectives: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a cellulose-based antimicrobial wipe formulation by combining sodium hypochlorite with essential oils from Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), Lavandula [...] Read more.
The development of antimicrobial formulations for biodegradable wet wipes is of increasing interest for more sustainable hygiene applications. Objectives: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a cellulose-based antimicrobial wipe formulation by combining sodium hypochlorite with essential oils from Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), Lavandula officinalis (lavender), and Syzygium aromaticum (clove). The formulation was designed to incorporate sodium hypochlorite and essential oils into a cellulose matrix and to evaluate whether their combination could enhance antibacterial efficacy through synergistic interactions. Methods: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) was used as a complementary qualitative method to characterize the essential oils and to assess spectral changes following their incorporation into the cellulose-based wipe substrate. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076 following CLSI guidelines, while combined interactions were assessed using the checkerboard assay. Results: FTIR-ATR analysis revealed characteristic spectral features of the investigated essential oils and detectable spectral changes following their incorporation into the sodium hypochlorite-treated cellulose-based wipes. Sodium hypochlorite exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity, while S. aromaticum oil showed the highest efficacy among essential oils. Notably, synergistic interactions were observed between sodium hypochlorite and all essential oils against Gram-positive bacteria, with lavender oil showing consistent synergy across all bacterial strains (FICI 0.28–0.31). The developed formulation achieved 99.999% bacterial reduction for Gram-positive strains and substantial inhibition of Gram-negative bacteria within 20 min. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the potential of combining sodium hypochlorite with essential oils for the development of effective antibacterial cellulose-based wet wipes and provide a basis for further investigation of formulations that may achieve effective bacterial control with reduced concentrations of conventional disinfectants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Tissue Regeneration and Antimicrobial Strategies: Innovations and Applications)
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Review

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26 pages, 1668 KB  
Review
Polymer Composite Design Strategies for Antibacterial Resin-Based Dental Restorative Composites: Mechanisms, Structure–Property Relationships, and Translational Challenges
by Chuan-Chi Chen, Tsu-I Yang, Yi-Chia Chen, Kuan-Wei Lung, I-Ta Lee, Tzu-Yu Peng, Jie-Ru You, Thi Thuy Tien Vo, Yung-Li Wang and Chien-Fu Tseng
Polymers 2026, 18(17), 2147; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18172147 - 2 Sep 2026
Viewed by 684
Abstract
Dental resin composites are widely used for direct restorations, yet their longevity remains limited by biofilm accumulation and secondary caries at the tooth–restoration interface. Unlike previous reviews that have primarily organized antibacterial dental materials according to antimicrobial agents or mechanisms, this narrative review [...] Read more.
Dental resin composites are widely used for direct restorations, yet their longevity remains limited by biofilm accumulation and secondary caries at the tooth–restoration interface. Unlike previous reviews that have primarily organized antibacterial dental materials according to antimicrobial agents or mechanisms, this narrative review evaluates antibacterial resin composites from a polymer-composite design perspective, integrating molecular architecture, network immobilization, filler–matrix interactions, polymerization, and aging. Leachable agents such as chlorhexidine provide early antibacterial effects but are constrained by reservoir depletion, water sorption, and release-related material changes. In contrast, covalently immobilized quaternary ammonium monomers provide sustained surface-associated activity without continuous release, although their performance depends on molecular structure, concentration, degree of conversion, and network properties. Antibacterial nanoparticles and bioactive glass fillers provide composition-dependent ion-mediated, photocatalytic, pH-modulating, and remineralizing effects, while their performance depends strongly on particle characteristics, dispersion, and formulation. Multifunctional systems further combine antibacterial activity with protein repellence, mineral protection, and rechargeable ion release. Overall, the evidence indicates that durable antibacterial performance cannot be considered independently of polymerization, mechanical integrity, aging stability, and biocompatibility. Future development should therefore prioritize clinically relevant multispecies biofilm models, standardized aging protocols, structure–property analysis, and long-term in vivo and clinical validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Tissue Regeneration and Antimicrobial Strategies: Innovations and Applications)
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24 pages, 3738 KB  
Review
Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) and Its Derivatives: From Polymer Synthesis to Advanced Biomedical Applications
by Pedro Valentín Badía-Hernández, Rocío Díaz-Puertas, Paula del Carmen Sánchez-García, Alberto Falcó, Pilar García-Morales and Ricardo Mallavia
Polymers 2026, 18(13), 1667; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18131667 - 6 Jul 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 949
Abstract
Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMVEMA) is a versatile synthetic copolymer that has gained considerable attention in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioadhesive properties and chemical reactivity. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the derivatives, physicochemical properties, [...] Read more.
Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMVEMA) is a versatile synthetic copolymer that has gained considerable attention in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioadhesive properties and chemical reactivity. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the derivatives, physicochemical properties, functionalization and crosslinking strategies of PMVEMA, with particular emphasis on their relevance to biomedical applications. A comprehensive literature analysis was performed using major scientific databases, combined with artificial intelligence-assisted text mining, to identify the principal research trends associated with PMVEMA. The reviewed studies demonstrate that the reactive anhydride groups of PMVEMA enable the formation of a wide variety of derivatives, including hydrogels, nanoparticles and nanofibers with tunable properties. These characteristics have facilitated its application in different fields, including immunology, drug delivery, dentistry and dermatology. In particular, PMVEMA-based systems exhibit enhanced mucosal adhesion, controlled drug release, immunoadjuvant activity and biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. Despite its broad applicability, further studies are still needed to fully elucidate its biodegradation mechanisms in vivo and optimize its clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers in Tissue Regeneration and Antimicrobial Strategies: Innovations and Applications)
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