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Polymers
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Advances in Synthesis, Testing, and Applications of Natural and Synthetic Polymer Hydrogels

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 4244

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chandra Mouli R. Madhuranthakam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 59911, United Arab Emirates
Interests: polymer simulations; molecular modeling; material design; biopolymers; packaging material
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Iolanda Francolini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: polymer characterization; structure–properties relationships; antimicrobial polymers; polyurethanes; drug delivery systems; functionalization of polymers; microbial biofilms; nanocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogels are crosslinked, three-dimensional networks of highly hydrophilic polymers capable of absorbing significant amounts of water or biological fluids. Natural-polymer-based hydrogels contain starch, chitosan, cellulose, alginate, guar gum, and hyaluronic acid, and they are extensively used in biomedical applications such as tissue regeneration and drug delivery. Synthetic polymer hydrogels (such as polyacrylamide and polyethylene glycol) are made using different routes such as bulk polymerization, the free radical mechanism, the radiation method, and solution mixing and casting, leading to enhanced mechanical properties, swelling, stimuli sensitivity, and compatibility in biomedical as well as other engineering applications. Extensive research is being carried out on functionalized hydrogels and their state-of-the-art synthesis methods that have extensive applications in regenerative medicine, separation processes, enhanced oil recovery, and water and wastewater treatment processes.

This Special Issue on “Advances in Synthesis, Testing, and Applications of Natural and Synthetic Polymer Hydrogels” gives the scientific community a chance to present their research findings or provide an update on the discovery of novel polymer hydrogels, their manufacturing methods, and analytical methods for their characterization and applications.

Research articles, as well as reviews, are welcome.

Dr. Chandra Mouli R. Madhuranthakam
Dr. Iolanda Francolini
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

  • natural hydrogels
  • synthetic hydrogels
  • swelling ability
  • biomaterials
  • regenerative medical applications
  • enhanced oil recovery
  • membrane separation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 3317 KiB  
Article
Effects of Guar Gum and Sodium Benzoate on the Properties and Hydrophilicity of Silk Fibroin Hydrogels
by Ansaya Thonpho, Yodthong Baimark, Suchai Tanisood and Prasong Srihanam
Polymers 2025, 17(3), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17030425 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 793
Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF)–based hydrogels were prepared by the simple evaporation method. The outcomes of SF–based hydrogels were assessed for consideration in terms of practical and convenient use. Guar gum (GG) and sodium benzoate (SB) are blending reagents to the SF solution and are [...] Read more.
Silk fibroin (SF)–based hydrogels were prepared by the simple evaporation method. The outcomes of SF–based hydrogels were assessed for consideration in terms of practical and convenient use. Guar gum (GG) and sodium benzoate (SB) are blending reagents to the SF solution and are poured into the petri dish to make the hydrogels. After leaving the mixture solution for three days to solidify, all SF–based hydrogels were peeled off and characterized. The SF–blend guar gum (SF–GG) and SF–GG–blend sodium benzoate (SF–GG–SB) could be constructed, but in different textures and levels of transparency. The SB affected the solid texture and resulted in a higher water contact angle (WCA) value of the prepared SF hydrogel than of the SF–GG. The results from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated all the main functional groups of substances that were contained in the blending hydrogels. Moreover, some interactions between the functional groups were also detected. A thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) was used to determine the hydrogel decomposition as a function of temperature. The DTG thermograms, which exhibit the maximum decomposition temperature, revealed that the interaction forces between blending substances and SF, as well as their structure, are the reason for the thermal stability of the SF–based hydrogels. SF–GG–SB hydrogels have higher tensile strength than the SF–GG hydrogels. In conclusion, the appearance, texture, hydrophilicity, thermal stability, and tensile strength of the SF–based hydrogels were affected by the types and concentrations of the blending substances. This suggests that the SF–based hydrogel properties could be designed and adjusted to attain desirable textures for fitting target applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Synthesis, Testing, and Applications of Natural and Synthetic Polymer Hydrogels)
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Review

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30 pages, 4853 KiB  
Review
Advances in Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Membranes for Fuel Cells: A Comprehensive Review on Types, Synthesis, Modifications, and Performance Optimization
by Chandra Mouli R. Madhuranthakam, Weam S. K. Abudaqqa and Michael Fowler
Polymers 2024, 16(13), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16131775 - 23 Jun 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2929
Abstract
Fuel cell technology is at the forefront of sustainable energy solutions, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membranes play an important role in improving performance. This article thoroughly investigates the various varieties of PVA membranes, their production processes, and the numerous modification tactics used to [...] Read more.
Fuel cell technology is at the forefront of sustainable energy solutions, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membranes play an important role in improving performance. This article thoroughly investigates the various varieties of PVA membranes, their production processes, and the numerous modification tactics used to solve inherent problems. Various methods were investigated, including chemical changes, composite blending, and the introduction of nanocomposites. The factors impacting PVA membranes, such as proton conductivity, thermal stability, and selectivity, were investigated to provide comprehensive knowledge. By combining various research threads, this review aims to completely investigate the current state of PVA membranes in fuel cell applications, providing significant insights for both academic researchers and industry practitioners interested in efficient and sustainable energy conversion technologies. The transition from traditional materials such as Nafion to PVA membranes has been prompted by limitations associated with the former, such as complex synthesis procedures, reduced ionic conductivity at elevated temperatures, and prohibitively high costs, which have hampered their widespread adoption. As a result, modern research efforts are increasingly focused on the creation of alternative membranes that can compete with conventional technical efficacy and economic viability in the context of fuel cell technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Synthesis, Testing, and Applications of Natural and Synthetic Polymer Hydrogels)
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