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Polymers
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Functional Polymer Applications in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering
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Functional Polymer Applications in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 4746

Editor

Dr. Lu Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
Interests: funtional polymers; natural polymers; diagnostic materials; biomedical engineering; wound dressings; tissue engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Functional polymeric materials refer to a class of high-molecular-weight materials that have specific physical, chemical or biological functions through molecular design or modification, which is a very important component in the field of drug delivery and tissue engineering. The role of functional polymers in these fields has transformed from inert components into intelligent components that actively participate in biological processes. Functional polymers are not only the cornerstones of these biomedical fields but also drive the fields’ cutting-edge development. The emerging research directions of functional polymers in drug delivery focus on the development of smart-responsive, actively targeted, and multi-functional collaborative delivery systems, while the promising research directions of functional polymers in tissue engineering focus on the development of intelligent, bioactive, dynamic, and precise scaffold materials. In addition, selection and composition, bionic structure design, personalized customization, and sustainability of polymers are also their future development trends.

Dr. Lu Jiang
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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

  • functional polymers
  • drug delivery
  • tissue engineering
  • biomedical engineering
  • responsive polymers
  • bioactive polymers
  • sustainability

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 7306 KB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Andrographolide Microparticles via Spray Drying: An Aqueous-Based Chitosan/Cellulose/Poloxamer Carrier Approach
by Nuttapong Khiaonoi, Kwanchai Kraitong, Punyawan Lumpaopong and Jarupa Viyoch
Polymers 2026, 18(13), 1655; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18131655 - 3 Jul 2026
Viewed by 498
Abstract
Andrographolide-loaded microparticles with an aqueous-based carrier system were developed with the aim of pulmonary drug delivery. Five formulations of andrographolide (0.6–5.8% w/w) loaded on mixed-polymer carriers containing chitosan (CHS), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), Poloxamer 188, and PEG 20,000, with various ratios [...] Read more.
Andrographolide-loaded microparticles with an aqueous-based carrier system were developed with the aim of pulmonary drug delivery. Five formulations of andrographolide (0.6–5.8% w/w) loaded on mixed-polymer carriers containing chitosan (CHS), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), Poloxamer 188, and PEG 20,000, with various ratios were produced under various spray-drying parameters: solution viscosity (5–20 cP), atomization air pressure (0.8–1.5 bar) and solution feed rate (3–6 mL/min). The physiochemical properties of the microparticles were strongly affected by carrier composition and atomization air pressure. The optimal formulation: andrographolide 0.6% w/w, CHS 62.2% w/w, HEC 15.5% w/w and Poloxamer 188 21.7% w/w, spray dried using solution viscosity 15 cP, atomization air pressure 1.1 bar and feed rate 3 mL/min, was selected according to its particle sizes (3–5 µm) with rough morphology, encapsulation efficiency (54.47%) and release behaviors (22.31%/h and 89.23% within 4 h). Good physical, chemical, and thermal stabilities under room storage condition (28 ± 2 °C, 50% relative humidity) were also proven. Importantly, it demonstrated potent antiviral activity against Influenza A/H1N1, achieving a 3.3-log10 reduction in viral titer with 99.95% inhibition. Overall, this aqueous-based carrier approach and spray-drying technique offer a stable and effective inhalable formulation for localized treatment of influenza infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Applications in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering)
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21 pages, 4581 KB  
Article
Chitosan–Silk Fibroin Hydrogel Scaffold Incorporating Bioactive Aloe vera and Mimosa Complex for Cartilage-Supportive Applications
by Witwisitpong Maneechan, Areeya Tuanchai, Sukunya Ross, Gareth M. Ross, Chatnarong Putthong, Jatuporn Ngoenkam, Yuriko Higuchi, Pensri Charoensit and Jarupa Viyoch
Polymers 2026, 18(11), 1406; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18111406 - 5 Jun 2026
Viewed by 595
Abstract
A composite hydrogel scaffold comprising chitosan, silk fibroin, Aloe vera extract, and Mimosa complex was fabricated and thoroughly characterized. Upon freeze-drying, the scaffolds displayed a uniform cylindrical geometry with a highly porous, interconnected polymeric network. Quantitative image analysis revealed a mean pore diameter [...] Read more.
A composite hydrogel scaffold comprising chitosan, silk fibroin, Aloe vera extract, and Mimosa complex was fabricated and thoroughly characterized. Upon freeze-drying, the scaffolds displayed a uniform cylindrical geometry with a highly porous, interconnected polymeric network. Quantitative image analysis revealed a mean pore diameter of 43.09 ± 2.27 µm alongside an overall porosity of 61.4 ± 6.2%. ATR-FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed successful inclusion of the complex formation and the incorporation of all constituents into the final formulation. The scaffold exhibited a compressive modulus of 46.63 ± 22.71 kPa (dry) and 5.40 ± 3.73 kPa (hydrated), with a swelling ratio of 756.62 ± 114.08%, supporting its suitability for physiological applications. TGF-β3 loading via adsorption yielded an entrapment efficiency of approximately 79.18%, reflecting effective physical immobilization throughout the polymer matrix. Cytocompatibility was subsequently assessed using an indirect contact model combined with an MTT assay, both of which confirmed that TGF-β3-loaded scaffolds exerted no cytotoxic effects on chondrocytes. After 28 days in culture, scanning electron microscopy revealed pronounced cell adhesion, preservation of rounded cell morphology, and ECM deposition along pore walls and throughout interconnected channels. Immunofluorescence analysis further demonstrated a time-dependent accumulation of aggrecan and collagen type II within the three-dimensional scaffold architecture. Collectively, these findings suggest that the developed composite hydrogel scaffold is well-suited for cartilage-related in vitro culture applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Applications in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering)
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Review

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45 pages, 6602 KB  
Review
Four-Dimensional Printing of Shape Memory Polymers for Biomedical Applications: Advances in DLP and SLA Manufacturing
by Raj Kumar Pittala, Marc Anthony Torres, Neha Reddy, Sara Swank and Melanie Ecker
Polymers 2026, 18(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18010024 - 22 Dec 2025
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3169
Abstract
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) represent an innovative class of materials that possess programmed, reversible shape-changing capabilities in response to external stimuli. The recent emergence of SMPs’ advanced manufacturing, specifically 4D printing, has created exceptional opportunities for use in biomedical engineering. This review presents [...] Read more.
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) represent an innovative class of materials that possess programmed, reversible shape-changing capabilities in response to external stimuli. The recent emergence of SMPs’ advanced manufacturing, specifically 4D printing, has created exceptional opportunities for use in biomedical engineering. This review presents a critical synthesis of the latest advances in the chemistry, biomedical applications, manufacturing strategies, and clinical translation of SMPs, highlighting vat photopolymerization techniques, such as stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP). Notably, 4D-printed SMPs can promote spatiotemporally controlled architectures, and applications include minimally invasive implants, dynamic tissue scaffolds, and multifunctional drug delivery. This paper focuses on recent advances in resin design, multi-responsive and nanocomposite resins, AI-guided material discovery, and emerging biocompatible and biodegradable formulations, while outlining current roadblocks to clinical implementation, including cytotoxicity, sterilization, regulatory compliance, and device shelf-life. Our goal is to elucidate the relationship between material design, processing, and biomedical performance to inform researchers of potential future directions for 4D-printed SMPs and next-generation, patient-centered medical devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Polymer Applications in Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering)
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