Advances in Polymers-Based Functional and Smart Textiles

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer fibers are made from synthetic or natural polymers via processes like spinning. They offer diverse properties—strength, flexibility, and chemical resistance. When modified with additives, they gain conductivity, antimicrobial traits, or thermal responsiveness. They are used in textiles, medical sutures, filtration, and composites, and their lightweight nature and scalability drive innovation. From durable clothing to advanced biomedical scaffolds, polymer fibers blend functionality with processability, making them indispensable in modern materials science and engineering applications.

Smart textiles, which integrate technology with fabric, redefine functionality in everyday and specialized use. When embedding sensors, conductive threads, or responsive materials, they sense and react to environmental stimuli—monitoring vital signs, adjusting warmth, or harvesting energy. From fitness wear tracking activity to medical garments regulating drug release, their versatility spans sectors. Combining comfort with smart capabilities, these textiles merge textile engineering with electronics, enabling interactive, adaptive solutions that enhance safety, health, and convenience in diverse applications. 

Dr. Lihuan Zhao
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.