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Innovative Materials Based on Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications, 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 5761

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Lacramioara Rusu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemical and Food Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacau, Bacău, Romania
Interests: biomaterials; environmental protection; water and wastewater treatment; biosorption; bioresources valorization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural polymers play an important role in sustainable development. Natural-polymer-based materials have received significant attention in recent years due to their potential applications in various fields, such as environmental protection, medicine, the cosmetics and food industries, and agriculture.

In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in obtaining new types of natural-polymer-based materials due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability.

This Special Issue on “Innovative Materials Based on Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications, 2nd Edition” aims to provide an overview of innovative materials, mainly derived from natural polymers, which follow the principles of green chemistry, a circular economy, and sustainability, with applications in various fields.

I am pleased to invite you to submit research articles or reviews to this Special Issue.

Dr. Lacramioara Rusu
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

  • natural polymers
  • biocomposite
  • biosorbent
  • immobilization
  • encapsulation
  • cellulose
  • membranes
  • environmental protection
  • medicine
  • cosmetic industry
  • food industry
  • biodegradable packaging

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3403 KiB  
Article
Extraction of Purple Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Mucilage by Microfiltration, Composition, and Physicochemical Characteristics
by María Carmen Fernández-Martínez, Cristian Jiménez-Martínez, Mónica Rosalía Jaime-Fonseca and Liliana Alamilla-Beltrán
Polymers 2024, 16(23), 3383; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16233383 - 30 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1774
Abstract
Mucilages are valuable to the food industry, but the solvents used to extract and concentrate them are detrimental to the environment. Therefore, environmentally friendly technologies that preserve the properties of biopolymers and reduce the use of solvents are being sought. In this work, [...] Read more.
Mucilages are valuable to the food industry, but the solvents used to extract and concentrate them are detrimental to the environment. Therefore, environmentally friendly technologies that preserve the properties of biopolymers and reduce the use of solvents are being sought. In this work, the mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica (mesocarp–endocarp) was extracted by two methods: In the first one, the pulp from the mesocarp–endocarp was extracted by ethanol precipitation and centrifugation cycles, then dried at room temperature. For the second, the pulp was processed in a three-step tangential microfiltration process: microfiltration (separation), diafiltration (purification), and concentration. The mucilages obtained differed significantly (p < 0.05) in color, betalains, total sugars, and proteins. The proportions of insoluble and soluble dietary fiber were similar. GC/MS analysis identified seven neutral sugars and a high content of uronic acids (31.3% in the microfiltered mucilage and 47.5% in the ethanol-precipitated mucilage). These show a low degree of esterification, which gives them a polar and hydrophilic character and the possibility of interacting with divalent ions through the carboxylic acid groups, which could form gels stabilized by an egg-box mechanism, with application as a thickening, stabilizing, gelling, or film-forming agent for foods with low sugar content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Materials Based on Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 8794 KiB  
Article
Encapsulation of Bacillus subtilis in Electrospun Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Fibers Coated with Cellulose Derivatives for Sustainable Agricultural Applications
by Petya Tsekova, Nasko Nachev, Iliyana Valcheva, Donka Draganova, Mladen Naydenov, Mariya Spasova and Olya Stoilova
Polymers 2024, 16(19), 2749; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16192749 - 28 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1640
Abstract
One of the latest trends in sustainable agriculture is the use of beneficial microorganisms to stimulate plant growth and biologically control phytopathogens. Bacillus subtilis, a Gram-positive soil bacterium, is recognized for its valuable properties in various biotechnological and agricultural applications. This study [...] Read more.
One of the latest trends in sustainable agriculture is the use of beneficial microorganisms to stimulate plant growth and biologically control phytopathogens. Bacillus subtilis, a Gram-positive soil bacterium, is recognized for its valuable properties in various biotechnological and agricultural applications. This study presents, for the first time, the successful encapsulation of B. subtilis within electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) fibers, which are dip-coated with cellulose derivatives. In that way, the obtained fibrous biohybrid materials actively ensure the viability of the encapsulated biocontrol agent during storage and promote its normal growth when exposed to moisture. Aqueous solutions of the cellulose derivatives—sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose, were used to dip-coat the electrospun PHB fibers. The study examined the effects of the type and molecular weight of these cellulose derivatives on film formation, mechanical properties, bacterial encapsulation, and growth. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to observe the morphology of the biohybrid materials and the encapsulated B. subtilis. Additionally, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the surface chemical composition of the biohybrid materials and verified the successful coating of PHB fibers. Mechanical testing revealed that the coating enhanced the mechanical properties of the fibrous materials and depends on the molecular weight of the used cellulose derivatives. Viability tests demonstrated that the encapsulated B. subtilis exhibited normal growth from the prepared materials. These findings suggest that the developed fibrous biohybrid materials hold significant promise as biocontrol formulations for plant protection and growth promotion in sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Materials Based on Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications, 2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 12188 KiB  
Article
In Vitro and Ex Vivo Evaluation of Novel Methacrylated Chitosan-PNIPAAm-Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels Loaded with Progesterone for Applications in Vaginal Delivery
by Oana-Teodora Afloarea, Isabella Nacu, Liliana Vereștiuc, Cătălina Natalia Yilmaz, Alina Diana Panainte, Cătălina Anișoara Peptu, Iulia-Giorgiana Ostafe and Nela Bibire
Polymers 2024, 16(15), 2160; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16152160 - 30 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1496
Abstract
Miscarriage is defined as the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks and administration of progesterone in pregnancy has considerably decreased the risk of premature birth. Progesterone (PGT) starting from the luteal phase stabilizes pregnancy, promotes differentiation of the endometrium, and facilitates the [...] Read more.
Miscarriage is defined as the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks and administration of progesterone in pregnancy has considerably decreased the risk of premature birth. Progesterone (PGT) starting from the luteal phase stabilizes pregnancy, promotes differentiation of the endometrium, and facilitates the implantation of the embryo. Within the present study, novel hybrid hydrogels based on chitosan methacrylate (CHT), hyaluronic acid (HA), and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) for vaginal delivery of progesterone were evaluated. The hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for structural identity assessment and evaluation of their morphological aspects. The ability to swell, the release capacity, enzymatic degradation, cytotoxicity, and mucoadhesion were also reported. The characterized hydrogels demonstrated mucoadhesive properties in contact with the vaginal tissue of swine and bovine origin as substrates, and biodegradability and controlled release in a simulated vaginal environment. Cytocompatibility tests confirmed the ability of the hydrogels and progesterone to support cell viability and growth. The results showed pH-dependent behavior, controlled drug release, good cytocompatibility, and mucoadhesive properties. The hydrogels with higher chitosan amounts demonstrated better bioadhesive properties. This study provides insights into the potential of these hydrogels for the controlled vaginal delivery of progesterone, with promising therapeutic effects and no cytotoxicity observed. The experimental results indicated that a composition with a moderate content of PNIPAAm was suitable for the controlled delivery of progesterone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Materials Based on Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications, 2nd Edition)
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