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Polymers
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Functional Materials Based on Biodegradable Polymers
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Functional Materials Based on Biodegradable Polymers

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 1254

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Giovanna Gomez D’Ayala

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Guest Editor
Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials of the National Research Council of Italy (IPCB-CNR), via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy
Interests: polymer synthesis; stimuli-responsive polymers; biocomposites; biomaterials; wound healing; bone regeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Synthetic polymers have been widely developed and utilized across various fields of application. However, most of them are non-biodegradable, resulting in environmental concerns and potential health risks. To tackle these issues, research in recent decades has increasingly focused on developing biodegradable polymer-based materials. Ongoing studies in this area continue to produce promising results, demonstrating the significant potential of these polymers for a range of industrial applications. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the preparation, characterization, and application of biodegradable polymer-based functional materials. It will highlight their potential uses across diverse fields, such as packaging, medicine, environmental protection, and agriculture, with the goal of updating current knowledge and expanding our understanding of biodegradable polymers. There are no limits in terms of the application (i.e., biomedical, food packaging, automotive, electrical, or others), the type of polymer (natural or synthetic polymers), or the nature and dimension of the other components. Both original contributions and reviews are welcome.

Dr. Giovanna Gomez D’Ayala
Guest Editor

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

  • synthetic polymers
  • biodegradable polymers
  • iomedical
  • food packaging
  • automotive
  • electrical

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 6575 KiB  
Article
The Importance of Crosslinking in Electrospun Membranes for Water Contaminant Removal
by Peio Martinez-Goikoetxea, José Manuel Laza, Julia Sanchez-Bodon, José Luis Vilas-Vilela and Antonio Veloso-Fernández
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 988; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070988 - 5 Apr 2025
Viewed by 336
Abstract
Traditional water purification systems often rely on synthetic materials that pose environmental risks due to their non-biodegradability and the potential release of harmful substances. To address these concerns, natural polymer-based membranes are being developed as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative for water [...] Read more.
Traditional water purification systems often rely on synthetic materials that pose environmental risks due to their non-biodegradability and the potential release of harmful substances. To address these concerns, natural polymer-based membranes are being developed as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative for water treatment due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and chemical versatility. These materials are particularly suitable for removing a wide range of contaminants due to their high selectivity and water permeability. Despite their benefits, challenges such as improving mechanical strength, durability, and resistance to fouling persist. Ongoing research continues to optimize the performance of electrospun membranes to meet modern water treatment demands. For this purpose, crosslinking via thermal initiators azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and 2,2’-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (V50) and chemical crosslinking by glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor have been studied for methacrylated chitosan and alginate. In addition, biocharcoal has been introduced into the membranes to enhance their functional properties. The development of natural polymer-based membranes combined with biocharcoal presents a promising and scalable solution for sustainable water purification, playing a crucial role in reducing pollution and preserving vital water resources for future generations. In this study, we demonstrate that the crosslinking effect plays a key role in maintaining the stability of alginate-based membranes in an aqueous environment while enhancing their adsorption capacity for methylene blue dye, making them promising for water purification applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Materials Based on Biodegradable Polymers)
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16 pages, 2247 KiB  
Article
Citrus Wastes as Source of Pectin and Bioactive Compounds Extracted via One-Pot Microwave Process: An In Situ Path to Modulated Property Control
by Domenico Zannini, Martina Monteforte, Luca Gargiulo, Tiziana Marino, Giovanna Gomez d’Ayala, Gabriella Santagata and Giovanni Dal Poggetto
Polymers 2025, 17(5), 659; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17050659 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 596
Abstract
In this paper, citrus pomace was used as a source of pectin and polyphenols extracted in one pot solution by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and conventional extraction (CE) methods. MAE parameters were optimized to maximize yield and adjust in situ final physicochemical properties of [...] Read more.
In this paper, citrus pomace was used as a source of pectin and polyphenols extracted in one pot solution by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and conventional extraction (CE) methods. MAE parameters were optimized to maximize yield and adjust in situ final physicochemical properties of extracted pectins, such as the methylation degree (DM), significantly influencing pectin functionality and application. Citric acid (CA) and acetic acid (Hac) were employed as solvents to mitigate pectin degradation. Extracted pectins were structurally (GPC and FTIR-ATR), morphologically (SEM), and thermally (TGA) characterized. From the reaction batch, the bioactive compounds (AOs) were separated and recovered, and their yield and antioxidant activities were evaluated with a DPPH assay. Moreover, by strategically selecting pH and solvents, this research enabled precise control over the final properties of pectin. The various characterization techniques employed show that the extraction conditions significantly influence the physicochemical and morphological properties of the material. Molecular weight (Mw) values range from 218 kDa to 567 kDa, surface morphology varies from compact/aggregated structures to three-dimensional network-like formations, and the DM spans from 34% (low DM) to 83% (high DM). This highlights a novel approach for predicting and tailoring in situ characteristics of extracted pectin to meet specific application requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Materials Based on Biodegradable Polymers)
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