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Polymers in Medicine and Cosmetics: Advancing Materials for Health and Beauty

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Processing and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2025 | Viewed by 798

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Interests: topical skin formulations; emulsions; polymeric gels; skin protection agents; prevention of occupational skin diseases; physicochemical properties; textural profile; mechanical properties; rheological properties; sensory properties; safety of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 24 Warszawska St., 31155 Cracow, Poland
Interests: lipid nanocarriers; hydrogels; wound healing; skin disorders; skin regeneration; drug release kinetics; design of experiments (DOE); molecular dynamics (MD)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 24 Warszawska St., 31-155 Cracow, Poland
Interests: organic chemistry; medicinal chemistry; synthesis; pharmaceuticals; material characterization; polymers; nanomaterials; drug delivery systems; polymeric biomaterials; hydrogels; bio-hybrid hydrogels; advanced polymeric materials; biopolymers; natural and synthetic active substances; nanocarriers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue entitled "Polymers in Medicine and Cosmetics: Advancing Materials for Health and Beauty" aims to explore the innovative applications of polymeric materials in the fields of medicine and cosmetics. As the demand for advanced therapeutic solutions and skin and hair care products continues to grow, polymers and biopolymers have emerged as versatile materials that can enhance functionality, effectiveness, safety and user experience. This Special Issue will encompass a wide range of topics, including the synthesis and characterization of novel polymeric systems, their role in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, as well as their applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations.

Contributions will highlight recent advancements in biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, smart materials that respond to environmental stimuli, and the integration of nanotechnology with polymer science. We invite researchers and industry experts to submit original research articles and reviews that showcase the potential of polymers and biopolymers in enhancing health outcomes and beauty standards. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current trends and future directions in polymer applications, ultimately contributing to the development of safer, more effective, and sustainable materials in both medicine and cosmetics products.

Dr. Agnieszka Kulawik-Pióro
Dr. Małgorzata Miastkowska
Dr. Katarzyna Bialik-Wąs
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. 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

  • cosmetic
  • pharmaceutical and medical polymer applications
  • advanced healthcare materials
  • skin health
  • wound healing
  • polymeric biomaterials
  • drug delivery systems
  • material characterization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 2093 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Mechanical Stability of Water-Based Peel-Off Nail Polish Through Riboflavin Phosphate-Mediated Visible Light Photocrosslinking
by Minjin Kim, Youngran Park and Hyun Jong Lee
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060766 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 439
Abstract
Water-based peel-off nail polishes offer environmental and safety advantages but often suffer from poor mechanical properties. This study investigated the effect of visible-light-induced photocrosslinking with riboflavin phosphate (RFP) on the mechanical properties and adhesion of water-based peel-off nail polish films. Polyurethane films that [...] Read more.
Water-based peel-off nail polishes offer environmental and safety advantages but often suffer from poor mechanical properties. This study investigated the effect of visible-light-induced photocrosslinking with riboflavin phosphate (RFP) on the mechanical properties and adhesion of water-based peel-off nail polish films. Polyurethane films that contained various concentrations of RFP (0–0.1%) were prepared by combining two commercial water-based polyurethane dispersions and characterized through tensile testing, rheological analysis, and adhesion measurements. Under large deformation, the photocrosslinked films showed significantly enhanced mechanical properties, with the highest RFP concentration (0.1%) exhibiting a 54% increase in tensile strength and a 94% increase in Young’s modulus compared with the control, which reflected a transition from physical to covalent network dominance. Rheological analysis under small deformation revealed the formation of complex network structures, where lower RFP concentrations maintained a higher chain mobility beneficial for adhesion, while higher concentrations created more stable networks with enhanced thermal stability, which maintained 50% of the initial storage modulus up to 100 °C. The films exhibited biocompatibility across all RFP concentrations in the cell viability tests, and the straightforward preparation process that used commercially available materials suggests immediate potential for industrial implementation. These results demonstrate that RFP-mediated visible light photocrosslinking offers a promising approach for developing high-performance, environmentally friendly nail polish formulations that combine enhanced durability with user safety and manufacturing practicality. Full article
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