State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 15292

Special Issue Editors


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Departamento de Química de Radiaciones y Radioquímica, Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, México 04510, DF, Mexico
Interests: radiation grafting; smart polymers; drug delivery; biomaterials
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Laboratorio de Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería Culiacán, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Ciudad Universitaria, Culiacán, Sinaloa P.O. Box: 80013, Mexico
Interests: synthesis and characterization of polymers; controlled drug delivery; polymeric carriers; water remediation; flocculants and adsorbents; chitosan; stimuli-responsive polymers
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Biopolymers Laboratory, CTAOA, Research Center for Food and Development, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Interests: polysaccharides; gels; rheology; biomaterials; controlled release; bioactive compounds
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Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44430, Mexico
Interests: multiphase polymer processing; polymer recycling; preparation and characterization of biopolymers and biocomposites

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Division of Graduate Studies, Research of the Technological Institute of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes 20256, Mexico
Interests: hydrogels; polymers; modelling; adsorption process; heavy metals; drug delivery systems; diabetes; skin cancer

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Technological and scientific advances are gaining relevance in the emerging countries of Latin America. In Mexico, basic and frontier research regarding polymers is solid and follows world trends in the development of new materials that respond to the needs of today’s society. As you know, Mexican researchers immersed in polymer science have contributed significantly to this interdisciplinary area at national and international levels, as demonstrated in various journals. Currently, scientific research in Mexico is diverse and comprises different corners of knowledge; thus, applications of polymer materials, such as medicine, environment, food industry, construction industry, agriculture, packaging, textiles, energy storage, high tech devices, bioelectronics, cosmetics, and sensors, are expanding. Therefore, finding better polymeric materials is a task with broad objectives and brighter horizons. 

This Special Issue is intended to integrate the efforts of Mexican colleagues in developing Polymer Science and Technology. We welcome original papers and review articles; the scope of this collection includes, but is not limited to:

  • Obtention (extraction methods; synthesis by conventional and irradiation strategies)
  • Characterization
  • Kinetic Studies
  • Processing
  • Degradation and recycling
  • Modeling and simulation
  • Performance
  • Polymers as adjuvants in different topics
  • Hybrid materials (organic and inorganic components)

Dr. Emilio Bucio Carrillo
Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Antonio Picos Corrales
Dr. Elizabeth Carvajal-Millan
Dr. Rubén González-Núñez
Dr. Norma-Aurea Rangel-Vázquez
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

  • polymers
  • polymerization methods
  • self-assembling structures
  • macro/micro/nano-materials
  • composites
  • biomaterials
  • bioelectronics
  • conductive polymers
  • colloidal systems
  • elastomers
  • resins
  • rubbers
  • thermoplastics and thermosets
  • polymeric stabilizers
  • reinforced materials
  • enzymatic and thermal degradation
  • tissue engineering
  • wound dressing
  • drug delivery
  • hydrogel
  • cosmetics
  • sensors
  • water treatment
  • separation and purification technologies
  • protective polymeric films
  • polymers in diagnostics
  • food ingredients and food packaging
  • polymers for sustainable agriculture
  • polymers in textiles

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6372 KiB  
Article
Formation of Olive-like TiO2 Nanospheres in a Polymeric Mesh by Sol-Gel Method
by Claudia López Melendez, Humberto Alejandro Monreal Romero, Caleb Carreño-Gallardo, Guillermo Martinez Mata, Rosaura Pacheco Santiesteban, Teresa Pérez Piñon, Dagoberto Pérez Piñon, Héctor Alfredo López Aguilar, Marvin Elco Estrada Macias and José Guadalupe Chacón-Nava
Polymers 2024, 16(13), 1875; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16131875 - 30 Jun 2024
Viewed by 816
Abstract
Olive-like TiO2 (titanium dioxide), nanospheres compounds were synthesized. Polysaccharide (1–3 linked β-D galactapyranose and 1.4-linked 3.6 anyhdro-α-L-galactopyranose and titanium isopropoxide (IV) was used as a precursor in its formation. The powder sample was evaluated by scanning tunneling microscope, X-ray diffraction pattern, power [...] Read more.
Olive-like TiO2 (titanium dioxide), nanospheres compounds were synthesized. Polysaccharide (1–3 linked β-D galactapyranose and 1.4-linked 3.6 anyhdro-α-L-galactopyranose and titanium isopropoxide (IV) was used as a precursor in its formation. The powder sample was evaluated by scanning tunneling microscope, X-ray diffraction pattern, power spectral density, fast Fourier transform, differential thermal analysis, continuous wavelet transform, and isotropy texture analysis. The results demonstrate that these nanospheres can successfully be synthesized in a solution using a polysaccharide network by means of the sol-gel method. The synthesized olive-like TiO2 nanospheres have diameters ranging from 50 nm to 500 nm. The synthesis parameters, such as temperature, time, and concentration of the polysaccharide, were controlled in solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico)
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24 pages, 7361 KiB  
Article
Influence of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Carbon Nanotubes on the Structural, Electrical, and Photoluminescent Properties of Chitosan Films
by Jesús R. González-Martínez, Ana B. López-Oyama, Deyanira Del Ángel-López, Crescencio García-Guendulain, Eugenio Rodríguez-González, Eder U. Pulido-Barragan, Felipe Barffuson-Domínguez, Aurora G. Magallanes-Vallejo and Pablo J. Mogica-Cantú
Polymers 2024, 16(13), 1827; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16131827 - 27 Jun 2024
Viewed by 834
Abstract
Chitosan is a biopolymer with unique properties that have attracted considerable attention in various scientific fields in recent decades. Although chitosan is known for its poor electrical and mechanical properties, there is interest in producing chitosan-based materials reinforced with carbon-based materials to impart [...] Read more.
Chitosan is a biopolymer with unique properties that have attracted considerable attention in various scientific fields in recent decades. Although chitosan is known for its poor electrical and mechanical properties, there is interest in producing chitosan-based materials reinforced with carbon-based materials to impart exceptional properties such as high electrical conductivity and high Young’s modulus. This study describes the synergistic effect of carbon-based materials, such as reduced graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes, in improving the electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of chitosan-based films. Our findings demonstrate that the incorporation of reduced graphene oxide influences the crystallinity of chitosan, which considerably impacts the mechanical properties of the films. However, the incorporation of a reduced graphene oxide–carbon nanotube complex not only significantly improves the mechanical properties but also significantly improves the optical and electrical properties, as was demonstrated from the photoluminescence studies and resistivity measurements employing the four-probe technique. This is a promising prospect for the synthesis of new materials, such as biopolymer films, with potential applications in optical, electrical, and biomedical bioengineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico)
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13 pages, 4741 KiB  
Article
Dielectric and Viscoelastic Behavior of Polyvinyl Butyral Films
by Jesús G. Puente-Córdova, Flor Y. Rentería-Baltiérrez, Beatriz López-Walle and Juan A. Aguilar-Garib
Polymers 2023, 15(24), 4725; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15244725 - 16 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1291
Abstract
Dielectric and thermal properties of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) were studied in this work, using dynamic electrical analysis (DEA) at frequencies from 100 Hz to 1 MHz and temperatures from 293 K to 473 K. Two electrical relaxation processes were investigated: glass transition and [...] Read more.
Dielectric and thermal properties of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) were studied in this work, using dynamic electrical analysis (DEA) at frequencies from 100 Hz to 1 MHz and temperatures from 293 K to 473 K. Two electrical relaxation processes were investigated: glass transition and interfacial polarization. Above the glass transition temperature (~343 K), interfacial polarization dominates conductive behavior in polyvinyl butyral. The framework of the complex electric modulus was used to obtain information about interfacial polarization. The viscoelastic behavior was analyzed through dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), where only the mechanical manifestation of the glass transition is observed. The experimental results from dielectric measurements were analyzed with fractional calculus, using a fractional Debye model with one cap-resistor. We were successful in applying the complex electric modulus because we had a good correlation between data and theoretical predictions. The fractional order derivative is an indicator of the energy dissipated in terms of molecular mobility, and the calculated values close to 1 suggest a conductive behavior at temperatures above the glass transition temperature of PVB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico)
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21 pages, 39738 KiB  
Article
Biodegradability Assessment of Prickly Pear Waste–Polymer Fibers under Soil Composting
by Zormy Nacary Correa-Pacheco, Silvia Bautista-Baños, José Jesús Benítez-Jiménez, Pedro Ortega-Gudiño, Erick Omar Cisneros-López and Mónica Hernández-López
Polymers 2023, 15(20), 4164; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15204164 - 20 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1438
Abstract
Nowadays, solving the problems associated with environmental pollution is of special interest. Therefore, in this work, the morphology and thermal and mechanical properties of extruded fibers based on polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) added to prickly pear flour (PPF) under composting [...] Read more.
Nowadays, solving the problems associated with environmental pollution is of special interest. Therefore, in this work, the morphology and thermal and mechanical properties of extruded fibers based on polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) added to prickly pear flour (PPF) under composting for 3 and 6 months were evaluated. The highest weight loss percentage (92 ± 7%) was obtained after 6-month degradation of the PLA/PBAT/PPF/CO/AA blend, in which PPF, canola oil (CO), and adipic acid (AA) were added. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed structural changes in the fibers as composting time increased. The main changes in the absorption bands observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were related to the decrease in -C=O (1740 cm−1) and -C-O (1100 cm−1) groups and at 1269 cm−1, associated with hemicellulose in the blends with PPF. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed an increase in the cold crystallization and melting point with degradation time, being more evident in the fibers with PPF, as well as a decrease in the mechanical properties, especially Young’s modulus. The obtained results suggest that PPF residues could promote the biodegradability of PLA/PBAT-based fiber composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico)
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14 pages, 3053 KiB  
Article
Crosslinked Chitosan Films Supplemented with Randia sp. Fruit Extract
by Felipe López-Saucedo, Leticia Buendía-González, Héctor Magaña, Guadalupe Gabriel Flores-Rojas and Emilio Bucio
Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2724; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122724 - 18 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1463
Abstract
This work proposes the development of a polymer film made up of affordable components for its use as a healthcare material. Chitosan, itaconic acid, and Randia capitata fruit extract (Mexican variation) are the unique ingredients of this biomaterial prospect. Chitosan (from crustacean chitin) [...] Read more.
This work proposes the development of a polymer film made up of affordable components for its use as a healthcare material. Chitosan, itaconic acid, and Randia capitata fruit extract (Mexican variation) are the unique ingredients of this biomaterial prospect. Chitosan (from crustacean chitin) is crosslinked with itaconic acid, and in situ added R. capitata fruit extract in a one-pot reaction carried out in water as the sole solvent. Structurally, the film formed is an ionically crosslinked composite characterized by IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis (DSC and TGA); cell viability was also performed in vitro using fibroblasts BALB/3T3. Dry and swollen films were analyzed to determine affinity and stability in water. This chitosan-based hydrogel is designed as a wound dressing due to the combined properties of the chitosan with R. capitata fruit extract, which has potential as bioactive material due to its properties in epithelial regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico)
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16 pages, 6996 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of PMMA Microspheres with Tunable Diameters: Evaluation as a Template in the Synthesis of Tin Oxide Coatings
by José L. Mendoza-Castellanos, Juan C. Pantoja-Espinoza, Luis C. Rodríguez-Pacheco and Francisco Paraguay-Delgado
Polymers 2023, 15(11), 2419; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112419 - 23 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2075
Abstract
The synthesis of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) spheres with different sizes has been a challenge. PMMA has promise for future applications, e.g., as a template for preparing porous oxide coatings by thermal decomposition. Different amounts of SDS as a surfactant are used as an [...] Read more.
The synthesis of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) spheres with different sizes has been a challenge. PMMA has promise for future applications, e.g., as a template for preparing porous oxide coatings by thermal decomposition. Different amounts of SDS as a surfactant are used as an alternative to control PMMA microsphere size through the formation of micelles. The objectives of the study were twofold: firstly, to determine the mathematical relationship between SDS concentration and PMMA sphere diameter, and secondly, to assess the efficacy of PMMA spheres as templates for SnO2 coating synthesis and their impact on porosity. The study used FTIR, TGA, and SEM techniques to analyze the PMMA samples, and SEM and TEM techniques were used for SnO2 coatings. The results showed that PMMA sphere diameter could be adjusted by varying the SDS concentration, with sizes ranging from 120 to 360 nm. The mathematical relationship between PMMA sphere diameter and SDS concentration was determined with a y = axb type equation. The porosity of SnO2 coatings was found to be dependent on the PMMA sphere diameter used as a template. The research concludes that PMMA can be used as a template to produce oxide coatings, such as SnO2, with tunable porosities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico)
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14 pages, 1183 KiB  
Article
Sorption of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Microplastics
by Arely Areanely Cruz-Salas, Maribel Velasco-Pérez, Nayely Mendoza-Muñoz, Alethia Vázquez-Morillas, Margarita Beltrán-Villavicencio, Juan Carlos Alvarez-Zeferino and Sara Ojeda-Benítez
Polymers 2023, 15(9), 2050; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15092050 - 26 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2113
Abstract
As is the case for many others in the world, Mexican seas face complex pollution challenges; two of the contaminants that require special attention for their prevalence, possible chemical interactions, and relation to the country’s economy are leaked petroleum and microplastics (MP). This [...] Read more.
As is the case for many others in the world, Mexican seas face complex pollution challenges; two of the contaminants that require special attention for their prevalence, possible chemical interactions, and relation to the country’s economy are leaked petroleum and microplastics (MP). This research assessed the sorption of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) as fuel oil on microplastics in laboratory and field scenarios. Preliminary tests allowed the development and validation of a methodology to measure the sorbed fuel oil by Soxhlet extraction, with a 99.65% recovery rate. The amount of TPH sorbed in the lab followed the order LDPE > PS > PP > PVC > PET > HDPE, with the highest concentration found on LDPE. The sorption of fuel oil on microplastics is correlated to the surface area of the plastic particles and could also be related to the crystallinity of plastics. Sorption, for all plastics, was consistent with a second-order kinetic model. The analysis of field samples collected on beaches of the Gulf of Mexico varied from 1660 to 35,258 mg/kg MP. It must be noticed that, unlike others, this research quantified a family of contaminants, which could explain the high concentrations observed on microplastics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico)
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16 pages, 3831 KiB  
Article
Binary Graft of Poly(acrylic acid) and Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) onto PDMS Films for Load and Release of Ciprofloxacin
by Belén Santillán-González, Lorena Duarte-Peña and Emilio Bucio
Polymers 2023, 15(2), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15020302 - 6 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2040
Abstract
Polymers are versatile compounds which physical and chemical properties can be taken advantage of in wide applications. Particularly, in the biomedical field, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is one of the most used for its high biocompatibility, easy manipulation, thermal, and chemical stability. Nonetheless, its hydrophobic [...] Read more.
Polymers are versatile compounds which physical and chemical properties can be taken advantage of in wide applications. Particularly, in the biomedical field, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is one of the most used for its high biocompatibility, easy manipulation, thermal, and chemical stability. Nonetheless, its hydrophobic nature makes it susceptible to bacterial pollution, which represents a disadvantage in this field. A potential solution to this is through the graft of stimuli-sensitive polymers that, besides providing hydrophilicity, allow the creation of a drug delivery system. In this research, PDMS was grafted with acrylic acid (AAc) and vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) in two steps using gamma radiation. The resulting material was analyzed by several characterization techniques such as infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), swelling, contact angle, critical pH, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), demonstrating the presence of both polymers onto PDMS films and showing hydrophilic and pH-response properties. Among the performed methods to graft, the loading and release of ciprofloxacin were successful in those samples obtained by direct irradiation method. Furthermore, the antimicrobial assays showed zones of inhibition for microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico)
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11 pages, 3497 KiB  
Article
Silver Nanoparticles Loaded on Polyethylene Terephthalate Films Grafted with Chitosan
by Guadalupe Gabriel Flores-Rojas, Felipe López-Saucedo, Ricardo Vera-Graziano, Héctor Magaña, Eduardo Mendizábal and Emilio Bucio
Polymers 2023, 15(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15010125 - 28 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1767
Abstract
Currently, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used polymeric materials in different sectors such as medicine, engineering, and food, among others, due to its benefits, including biocompatibility, mechanical resistance, and tolerance to chemicals and/or abrasion. However, despite all these excellent [...] Read more.
Currently, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used polymeric materials in different sectors such as medicine, engineering, and food, among others, due to its benefits, including biocompatibility, mechanical resistance, and tolerance to chemicals and/or abrasion. However, despite all these excellent characteristics, it is not capable of preventing the proliferation of microorganisms on its surface. Therefore, providing this property to PET remains a difficult challenge. Fortunately, different strategies can be applied to remove microorganisms from the PET surface. In this work, the surface of the PET film was functionalized with amino groups and later with a dicarboxylic acid, allowing a grafting reaction with chitosan chains. Finally, the chitosan coating was loaded with silver nanoparticles with an average size of 130 ± 37 nm, presenting these materials with an average cell viability of 80%. The characterization of these new PET-based materials showed considerable changes in surface morphology as well as increased surface hydrophilicity without significantly affecting their mechanical properties. In general, the implemented method can open an alternative pathway to design new PET-based materials due to its good cell viability with possible bacteriostatic activity due to the biocidal properties of silver nanoparticles and chitosan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Polymer Science and Technology in Mexico)
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