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Polymers
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Advanced Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications
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Advanced Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 7974

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sung-Min Kang

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Guest Editor
Department of Green Chemical Engineering, Sangmyung University, Jongno-gu, Republic of Korea
Interests: natural polymers; microfluidics; biodegradable; swelling; drug delivery; multi-function
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced natural polymers are widely applied in various engineering fields, including drug delivery, food, and functional materials, which present high biodegradability, good biocompatibility, and external stimuli reacted physiological activity. Therefore, it is of great practical significance and application value to clearly analyze the chemical structure of polymer composites and accurately reveal the structure–activity relationship for the design and development of more functional materials and smart drugs that can be used in various engineering applications, such as biological and environmental fields.

The aim of this Special Issue is to gather the latest original research studies that involve natural polymer materials. We look forward to receiving your manuscripts in this field. Research articles and review articles are both welcome.

Dr. Sung-Min Kang
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 polymer
  • engineering
  • synthesis
  • functional materials
  • biocompatible

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 14923 KiB  
Article
Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Advanced Antimicrobial Electrospun Polymers
by Maja Somogyi Škoc, Ernest Meštrović, Pierre-Alexis Mouthuy and Iva Rezić
Polymers 2024, 16(17), 2443; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16172443 - 28 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1278
Abstract
The aim of this work was to synthesize, characterize and apply advanced antimicrobial biocompatible electrospun polymers suitable for medical implants for surgical repairs. Injuries to the musculoskeletal system often necessitate surgical repair, but current treatments can still lead to high failure rates, such [...] Read more.
The aim of this work was to synthesize, characterize and apply advanced antimicrobial biocompatible electrospun polymers suitable for medical implants for surgical repairs. Injuries to the musculoskeletal system often necessitate surgical repair, but current treatments can still lead to high failure rates, such as 40% for the repair of rotator cuff tears. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of new biocompatible materials that can effectively support the repair of damaged tissues. Additionally, infections acquired during hospitalization, particularly those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, result in more fatalities than AIDS, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis combined. This underscores the critical necessity for the advancement of antimicrobial implants with specialized coatings capable of combating Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), two strains notoriously known for their antibiotic resistance. Therefore, we developed an antimicrobial coating incorporating nanoparticle mixtures using the sol-gel process and applied it to electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) filaments, followed by thorough characterization by using spectroscopic (FTIR, Raman, NMR) microscopic (SEM and SEM-EDX), and tensile test. The results have shown that the integration of electro-spinning technology for yarn production, coupled with surface modification techniques, holds significant potential for creating antimicrobial materials suitable for medical implants for surgical repairs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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20 pages, 11107 KiB  
Article
Incorporation of Nanostructural Hydroxyapatite and Curcumin Extract from Curcuma longa L. Rhizome into Polylactide to Obtain Green Composite
by Magdalena Osial, Sławomir Wilczewski, Urszula Godlewska, Katarzyna Skórczewska, Jakub Hilus, Joanna Szulc, Agata Roszkiewicz, Agnieszka Dąbrowska, Zahra Moazzami Goudarzi, Krzysztof Lewandowski, Tomasz P. Wypych, Phuong Thu Nguyen, Grzegorz Sumara and Michael Giersig
Polymers 2024, 16(15), 2169; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16152169 - 30 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1484
Abstract
This study showed that a polylactide (PLA)-based composite filled with nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HAp) and a natural extract from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. could provide an alternative to commonly used fossil-based plasticsfor food packaging. The incorporation of HAp into the PLA matrix [...] Read more.
This study showed that a polylactide (PLA)-based composite filled with nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HAp) and a natural extract from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. could provide an alternative to commonly used fossil-based plasticsfor food packaging. The incorporation of HAp into the PLA matrix had a positive effect on improving selected properties of the composites; the beneficial effect could be enhanced by introducing a green modifier in the form of an extract. Prior to the fabrication of the composite, the filler was characterized in terms of morphology and composition, and the composite was then fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, and optical properties were investigated. The proposed material exhibits antioxidant properties against DPPH radicals and antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results showed that the nanocomposite has the highest antioxidant and antibacterial properties for 10 wt% HAp with an average diameter of rod-shaped structures below 100 nm. In addition, the introduction of turmeric extract had a positive effect on the tensile strength of the nanocomposites containing 1 and 5% HAp. As the resulting material adsorbs light in a specific wavelength range, it can be used in the medical sector, food-packaging, or coatings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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12 pages, 2845 KiB  
Article
Evaporation-Driven Energy Generation Using an Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber Mat with Different Support Substrates
by Yongbum Kwon, Dai Bui-Vinh, Seung-Hwan Lee, So Hyun Baek, Songhui Lee, Jeungjai Yun, Minwoo Baek, Hyun-Woo Lee, Jaebeom Park, Miri Kim, Minsang Yoo, Bum Sung Kim, Yoseb Song, Handol Lee, Do-Hyun Lee and Da-Woon Jeong
Polymers 2024, 16(9), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16091180 - 23 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2580
Abstract
Water evaporation-driven energy harvesting is an emerging mechanism for contributing to green energy production with low cost. Herein, we developed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber-based evaporation-driven electricity generators (PEEGs) to confirm the feasibility of utilizing electrospun PAN nanofiber mats in an evaporation-driven energy harvesting system. [...] Read more.
Water evaporation-driven energy harvesting is an emerging mechanism for contributing to green energy production with low cost. Herein, we developed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber-based evaporation-driven electricity generators (PEEGs) to confirm the feasibility of utilizing electrospun PAN nanofiber mats in an evaporation-driven energy harvesting system. However, PAN nanofiber mats require a support substrate to enhance its durability and stability when it is applied to an evaporation-driven energy generator, which could have additional effects on generation performance. Accordingly, various support substrates, including fiberglass, copper, stainless mesh, and fabric screen, were applied to PEEGs and examined to understand their potential impacts on electrical generation outputs. As a result, the PAN nanofiber mats were successfully converted to a hydrophilic material for an evaporation-driven generator by dip-coating them in nanocarbon black (NCB) solution. Furthermore, specific electrokinetic performance trends were investigated and the peak electricity outputs of Voc were recorded to be 150.8, 6.5, 2.4, and 215.9 mV, and Isc outputs were recorded to be 143.8, 60.5, 103.8, and 121.4 μA, from PEEGs with fiberglass, copper, stainless mesh, and fabric screen substrates, respectively. Therefore, the implications of this study would provide further perspectives on the developing evaporation-induced electricity devices based on nanofiber materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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Review

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16 pages, 1999 KiB  
Review
Reviving Natural Rubber Synthesis via Native/Large Nanodiscs
by Abdul Wakeel Umar, Naveed Ahmad and Ming Xu
Polymers 2024, 16(11), 1468; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16111468 - 22 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2028
Abstract
Natural rubber (NR) is utilized in more than 40,000 products, and the demand for NR is projected to reach $68.5 billion by 2026. The primary commercial source of NR is the latex of Hevea brasiliensis. NR is produced by the sequential cis-condensation [...] Read more.
Natural rubber (NR) is utilized in more than 40,000 products, and the demand for NR is projected to reach $68.5 billion by 2026. The primary commercial source of NR is the latex of Hevea brasiliensis. NR is produced by the sequential cis-condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) through a complex known as the rubber transferase (RTase) complex. This complex is associated with rubber particles, specialized organelles for NR synthesis. Despite numerous attempts to isolate, characterize, and study the RTase complex, definitive results have not yet been achieved. This review proposes an innovative approach to overcome this longstanding challenge. The suggested method involves isolating the RTase complex without using detergents, instead utilizing the native membrane lipids, referred to as “natural nanodiscs”, and subsequently reconstituting the complex on liposomes. Additionally, we recommend the adaptation of large nanodiscs for the incorporation and reconstitution of the RTase complex, whether it is in vitro transcribed or present within the natural nanodiscs. These techniques show promise as a viable solution to the current obstacles. Based on our experimental experience and insights from published literature, we believe these refined methodologies can significantly enhance our understanding of the RTase complex and its role in in vitro NR synthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Natural Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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