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Dear Colleagues,

Polymers, and especially biopolymers, have attracted the interest of scientists since ancient times and are widely used in the medical and pharmaceutical fields due to their unique properties, which include versatility, bacteriostatic and haemostatic action, low cost of production, non-toxicity, great functionality, biocompatibility, and high absorbent capacity. The medical applications of biopolymeric materials vary from general healthcare to specific and very targeted domains such as surgery, wound healing, cancer management, tissue engineering, implants, and drug delivery system formulation. The development of functionalized polymeric materials or nanobiomaterials is a field of great relevance because it includes a multitude of biomaterials that can find medical applications as films, sponges, wound dressings, hydrogels, aerogels, electrospun nanofibers, nanoparticles, etc.

Modern techniques can enable the precise control of polymers or biopolymers for the proper development of convenient candidates for biomedical applications. Thus, in this Special Issue, we aim to create a platform for researchers to disseminate their results related to polymeric materials used in biomedical applications.

Dr. Andreea-Teodora Iacob
Prof. Dr. Lenuta Profire
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

biopolymers
polysaccharide
medical application
pharmaceutical application
in vitro and in vivo assays
chemical properties
physical properties
polymer chain structure
biopolymeric materials
polymeric materials

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 8425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Nanomagnetism: Investigating the Influence of Green Synthesis and pH on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Biomedical Applications

by Johar Amin Ahmed Abdullah, Álvaro Díaz-García, Jia Yan Law, Alberto Romero, Victorino Franco and Antonio Guerrero

Polymers 2023, 15(18), 3850; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15183850 - 21 Sep 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1281

Abstract

This study comprehensively analyzed green nanomagnetic iron oxide particles (GNMIOPs) synthesized using a green method, investigating their size, shape, crystallinity, aggregation, phase portions, stability, and magnetism. The influence of pH and washing solvents on the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles and their incorporation into PCL membranes was examined for biomedical applications. Polyphenols were utilized at different pH values (1.2, 7.5, and 12.5), with washing being performed using either ethanol or water. Characterization techniques, including XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, and VSM, were employed, along with evaluations of stability, magnetic properties, and antioxidant activity. The findings indicate that both pH levels and the washing process exert a substantial influence on several properties of NMIOPs. The particle sizes ranged from 6.6 to 23.5 nm, with the smallest size being observed for GNMIOPs prepared at pH 12.5. Higher pH values led to increased crystallinity, cubic Fe₃O₄ fractions, and reduced crystalline anisotropy. SEM and TEM analyses showed pH-dependent morphological variations, with increased aggregation being observed at lower pH values. GNMIOPs displayed exceptional magnetic behavior, with the highest saturation magnetization being observed in GNMIOPs prepared at pH 7.5 and 12.5 and subsequently washed with ethanol. The zeta potential measurements indicated a stability range for GNMIOPs spanning from −31.8 to −41.6 mV, while GNMIOPs synthesized under high-pH conditions demonstrated noteworthy antioxidant activity. Furthermore, it was explored how pH and washing solvent affected the morphology, roughness, and magnetic properties of GNMIOP-infused nanofiber membranes. SEM showed irregularities and roughness due to GNMIOPs, varying with pH and washing solvent. TEM confirmed better dispersion with ethanol washing. The magnetic response was stronger with ethanol-washed GNMIOPs, highlighting the influence of pH and washing solvent on membrane characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Polymeric Materials II)

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Review

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27 pages, 5154 KiB

Open AccessReview

Surface Modification Progress for PLGA-Based Cell Scaffolds

by Bohua Yan, Yabing Hua, Jinyue Wang, Tianjiao Shao, Shan Wang, Xiang Gao and Jing Gao

Polymers 2024, 16(1), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010165 - 04 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1327

Abstract

Poly(lactic-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biocompatible bio-scaffold material, but its own hydrophobic and electrically neutral surface limits its application as a cell scaffold. Polymer materials, mimics ECM materials, and organic material have often been used as coating materials for PLGA cell scaffolds to improve the poor cell adhesion of PLGA and enhance tissue adaptation. These coating materials can be modified on the PLGA surface via simple physical or chemical methods, and coating multiple materials can simultaneously confer different functions to the PLGA scaffold; not only does this ensure stronger cell adhesion but it also modulates cell behavior and function. This approach to coating could facilitate the production of more PLGA-based cell scaffolds. This review focuses on the PLGA surface-modified materials, methods, and applications, and will provide guidance for PLGA surface modification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Polymeric Materials II)

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