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Advances in Polymers: From Fabrication Technologies to Applications in Biotechnology...
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Advances in Polymers: From Fabrication Technologies to Applications in Biotechnology and Biomedicine

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2100

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anca Filimon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polycondensation and Thermostable Polymers Department, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular, Grigore Ghica Voda Alley 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Interests: multifunctional polymeric materials; conformational characteristics of polymers in solution; thermodynamics of multicomponent systems; biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity; antimicrobial coatings; membranes for biomedical applications and water treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lavinia Lupa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnologies and Environmental Protection, University Politehnica Timisoara, 300223 Timișoara, Romania
Interests: advanced water treatments; adsorption; photocatalysis; micro/nanofiltration; functionalized materials with ionic liquids; adsorbent obtaining and characterization; waste capitalizations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers, with their remarkable versatility and adaptability, have emerged as indispensable materials in various scientific and industrial fields. This Special Issue, entitled “Advances in Polymers: From Fabrication Technologies to Applications in Biotechnology and Biomedicine”, aims to provide a comprehensive platform for researchers to present the cutting-edge advancements in polymer science, starting from innovative fabrication technologies that enable precise control over molecular architecture, functional groups, and properties, to their tailored applications in addressing health and environmental challenges.

With a focus on bridging fundamental research and practical implementation, this Issue invites contributions that highlight breakthroughs in polymer synthesis (e.g., bio-inspired and sustainable polymers), advanced processing techniques like electrospinning and 3D printing, and functionalization strategies to meet the growing demands of the biomedical and biotechnological fields.

In the fields of biotechnology and biomedicine, polymers have been at the forefront of creating solutions that range from biocompatible membranes for selective transport and filtration to controlled drug release systems and tissue engineering scaffolds (membranes used in dialysis, tissue engineering scaffolds, eco-friendly and effective solutions for contaminant removal, controlled drug delivery systems, and antimicrobial coatings). These materials have demonstrated great potential to improve patient outcomes, promote personalized medicine, and mitigate environmental issues. Furthermore, the use of polymeric membranes for wearable sensors, protective clothing, and other bio-functional highlights their growing impact on enhancing quality of life.

We encourage submissions that provide significant scientific contributions and address the challenges and opportunities at the interface of polymer science, biotechnology, and biomedicine. Presenting cutting-edge advances and interdisciplinary approaches, this Issue aims to promote future innovations and facilitate collaboration among chemists, materials scientists, biotechnologists, and biomedical engineers.  

Dr. Anca Filimon
Dr. Lavinia Lupa
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

  • polymer-based high-performance materials
  • polymer-based composites
  • bio-inspired and sustainable polymers
  • structure-property relationships
  • surface physics and chemistry
  • materials processing and design
  • electrospinning and 3D printing techniques
  • membranes
  • antimicrobial coatings
  • wearable sensors
  • environmental applications

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 4247 KiB  
Article
Analyzing the Potential of Laser Femtosecond Technology for the Mass Production of Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Microfluidic Devices for Biomedical Applications
by Irene Varela Leniz, Taieb Bakouche, Malen Astigarraga, Florent Husson, Ane Miren Zaldua, Laura Gemini, José Luis Vilas-Vilela and Leire Etxeberria
Polymers 2025, 17(9), 1289; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17091289 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 281
Abstract
Precision micromilling is currently widely used for the fabrication of injection mold inserts for the mass production of microfluidic devices. However, for complex devices with micrometer-scale and high density of structures, micromilling results in high production times and costs for production runs of [...] Read more.
Precision micromilling is currently widely used for the fabrication of injection mold inserts for the mass production of microfluidic devices. However, for complex devices with micrometer-scale and high density of structures, micromilling results in high production times and costs for production runs of hundreds or thousands of units. Femtosecond laser (fs-laser) technology has emerged as a promising solution for high-precision micromachining. This study analyzes the potential of fs-laser micromachining for the fabrication of injection mold inserts for the large-scale production of thermoplastic microfluidic devices. For the evaluation of technology, a reference design was defined. The parameters of the fs-laser process were optimized to achieve high resolution of the structures and optimal surface quality, aiming to minimize production times and costs while ensuring the quality of the final part. The microstructures were replicated in two different grades of COC (Cyclic Olefin Copolymer) by injection molding. The dimensional tolerance of the structures and the surface finish achieved both in the insert and the polymer parts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy. The surface quality of the final parts and its suitability for microfluidic fabrication were also assessed performing chemical bonding tests. The fs-laser machining process has shown great potential for the mass production of microfluidic devices. The developed process has enabled for a reduction of up to 90% in the fabrication times of the insert compared to micromilling. The parts exhibited very smooth surfaces, with roughness values (Sa) of 64.6 nm for the metallic insert and 71.8 nm and 72.9 nm for the COC E-140 and 8007S-04 replicas, respectively. The dimensional tolerance and the surface quality need to be improved to be competitive with the finishes achieved with precision micromilling. Nonetheless, there is still room for improvement considering the significant reduction in the production times through new laser processing strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers: From Fabrication Technologies to Applications in Biotechnology and Biomedicine)
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17 pages, 4368 KiB  
Article
Targeting Injectable Hydrogels: The Role of Diphenylalanine Peptide Derivative in the Gelation Dynamics of Pluronic® F127
by Vasile Robert Gradinaru, Maria Bercea, Luiza Madalina Gradinaru, Alexandru Puiu, Alexandra Lupu and Brindusa Alina Petre
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 930; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070930 - 29 Mar 2025
Viewed by 393
Abstract
The fluorenyl methyl oxycarbonyl phenylalanyl-phenylalanine methyl ester (Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Ome) was synthetized using the liquid phase synthesis strategy. This derivative was separated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, its purity was analyzed by RP-HPLC and it was characterized by mass spectrometry. This extremely hydrophobic peptide conjugate was [...] Read more.
The fluorenyl methyl oxycarbonyl phenylalanyl-phenylalanine methyl ester (Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Ome) was synthetized using the liquid phase synthesis strategy. This derivative was separated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, its purity was analyzed by RP-HPLC and it was characterized by mass spectrometry. This extremely hydrophobic peptide conjugate was incorporated into aqueous solutions of Pluronic® F127 at low temperatures (below 10 °C). The temperature induced sol–gel transition was investigated by rheological measurements. A delay of the sol–gel transition, caused by the presence of low concentrations of Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Ome (up to 1%), enables better control of the gelation process. The viscoelastic properties of hybrid networks were investigated at 37 °C in different shear conditions. The Pluronic/peptide systems reported herein provide promising alternatives for developing innovative injectable gels as suitable platforms in cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers: From Fabrication Technologies to Applications in Biotechnology and Biomedicine)
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16 pages, 11241 KiB  
Article
Glycine-Group-Functionalized Polymeric Materials Impregnated with Zn(II) Used in the Photocatalytic Degradation of Congo Red Dye
by Laura Cocheci, Aurelia Visa, Bianca Maranescu, Lavinia Lupa, Aniela Pop, Ecaterina Stela Dragan and Adriana Popa
Polymers 2025, 17(5), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17050641 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 426
Abstract
Reducing the ecological impact of dyes through wastewater discharge into the environment is a challenge that must be addressed in textile wastewater pollution prevention. Congo red (CR) dye is widely used in experimental studies for textile wastewater treatment due to its high organic [...] Read more.
Reducing the ecological impact of dyes through wastewater discharge into the environment is a challenge that must be addressed in textile wastewater pollution prevention. Congo red (CR) dye is widely used in experimental studies for textile wastewater treatment due to its high organic loads used in its preparation. The degradation of organic dyes of the CR type was investigated using the photocatalytic activity of functionalized polymers. We have employed photodegradation procedures for both polymer-supported glycine groups (Code: AP2) and polymer-supported glycine-Zn(II) (Code: AP2-Zn(II)). A photocatalysis efficiency of 89.2% was achieved for glycine pendant groups grafted on styrene-6.7% divinylbenzene copolymer (AP2) and 95.4% for the AP2-Zn(II) sample by using an initial concentration of CR of 15 mg/L, a catalyst concentration of 1 g/L, and 240 min of photocatalysis. The findings provided here have shown that the two materials (AP2 and AP2-Zn(II)) may be effectively employed in the heterogeneous photocatalysis method to remove CR from water. From the perspective of the degradation mechanism of CR, the two photocatalysts act similarly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers: From Fabrication Technologies to Applications in Biotechnology and Biomedicine)
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Review

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40 pages, 11199 KiB  
Review
Biomaterial-Based Additive Manufactured Composite/Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: A Comprehensive Review
by Jigar Vyas, Nensi Raytthatha, Puja Vyas, Bhupendra G. Prajapati, Pimpon Uttayarat, Sudarshan Singh and Chuda Chittasupho
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17081090 - 17 Apr 2025
Viewed by 770
Abstract
Additive manufacturing (AM), also referred to as three-dimensional printing/printed (3DP), has emerged as a transformative approach in the current design and manufacturing of various biomaterials for the restoration of damaged tissues inside the body. This advancement has greatly aided the development of customized [...] Read more.
Additive manufacturing (AM), also referred to as three-dimensional printing/printed (3DP), has emerged as a transformative approach in the current design and manufacturing of various biomaterials for the restoration of damaged tissues inside the body. This advancement has greatly aided the development of customized biomedical devices including implants, prosthetics, and orthotics that are specific to the patients. In tissue engineering (TE), AM enables the fabrication of complex structures that promote desirable cellular responses in the regeneration of tissues. Since the choice of biomaterials plays a vital role in scaffold performance as well as cellular responses, meticulous material selection is essential in optimizing the functionality of scaffolds. These scaffolds often possess certain characteristics such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, biomimicry, and porous structure. To this end, polymers such as chitosan, collagen, alginate, hyaluronic acid, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, and polycaprolactone have been extensively investigated in the fabrication of tissue-engineered scaffolds. Furthermore, combinations of biomaterials are also utilized to further enhance the scaffolds’ performance and functionality. This review discusses the principle of AM and explores recent advancements in AM technologies in the development of TE and regenerative medicine. In addition, the applications of 3DP, polymer-based scaffolds will be highlighted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers: From Fabrication Technologies to Applications in Biotechnology and Biomedicine)
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