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Polymers
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New Progress in the Polymer-Based Biomaterials
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New Progress in the Polymer-Based Biomaterials

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 2026 | Viewed by 7334

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Olga Kammona

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemical Process & Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: drug delivery systems; nanocarriers; vaccines; mucosal delivery; hydrogels; tissue repair
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric biomaterials comprise synthetic (e.g., polyesters, polyanhydrides) and natural polymers (e.g., polysaccharides) exhibiting biocompatibility and/or biodegradability. They are designed to interface with biological systems (e.g., cells, tissues) and their physicochemical and biological properties can be fine-tuned for applications in regenerative medicine (e.g., biomimetic hydrogels, scaffolds, bioinks), drug delivery (e.g., functional nanocarriers exhibiting a controlled drug release profile for the delivery of small molecule drugs, therapeutic biomolecules, vaccines and genes) and diagnostics (e.g., biomaterials endowed with responsiveness to various stimuli such as pH, enzymes, etc.). Progress in polymer science and fabrication methods (e.g., 3D bioprinting) have led to the development of novel polymeric biomaterials featuring exceptional characteristics that enable them to address complex clinical needs.

This Special Issue is devoted to state-of-the-art research on polymeric biomaterials for diagnostics, drug delivery and tissue engineering applications, covering the synthesis of novel polymers, the functionalization of novel and existing biopolymers, the formation of multifunctional drug delivery systems, diagnostics and biomimetic scaffolds/hydrogels, as well as their in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo evaluation. Apart from original research papers, the Special Issue welcomes critical reviews on recent developments in polymeric biomaterials and the challenges that need to be overcome to advance their clinical translation.

Dr. Olga Kammona
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-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

  • polymeric biomaterials
  • polymer synthesis
  • biofunctionalization
  • drug delivery
  • regenerative medicine
  • tissue engineering
  • diagnostics
  • nanocarriers
  • scaffolds
  • biomimetic hydrogels

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1600 KB  
Article
Hybrid Biocomposites Based on Chitosan/Gelatin with Coffee Silverskin Extracts as Promising Biomaterials for Advanced Applications
by Argyri-Ioanna Petaloti and Dimitris S. Achilias
Polymers 2025, 17(23), 3194; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233194 - 30 Nov 2025
Viewed by 301
Abstract
Biopolymers such as chitosan and gelatin are emerging as leading alternatives to traditional plastic packaging due to their enhanced capabilities and biodegradability. Blends of chitosan and gelatin combine chitosan’s antimicrobial and film-forming properties with gelatin’s biocompatibility and flexibility. These biomaterials possess tunable mechanical, [...] Read more.
Biopolymers such as chitosan and gelatin are emerging as leading alternatives to traditional plastic packaging due to their enhanced capabilities and biodegradability. Blends of chitosan and gelatin combine chitosan’s antimicrobial and film-forming properties with gelatin’s biocompatibility and flexibility. These biomaterials possess tunable mechanical, biological, and physicochemical properties, making them suitable for biomedical, pharmaceutical, food packaging, environmental, and agricultural applications. This study investigates the preparation and characterization of composite biopolymer films based on chitosan and gelatin, incorporating coffee silverskin extract (SSE) as a natural bioactive additive. Coffee silverskin, a by-product of coffee roasting, is rich in phenolic compounds and demonstrates notable antioxidant potential. The objective of this work was to enhance the antioxidant, mechanical, and physicochemical properties of chitosan–gelatin films through the integration of SSE. The biocomposite materials were prepared using solvent casting, followed by extensive characterization techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Additionally, color measurements, mechanical properties, and physicochemical properties were assessed. The transmission rates of oxygen and water vapor were also examined, along with the antioxidant activity of the films. The inclusion of coffee silverskin extract facilitated intermolecular interactions between the polymer chains, resulting in improved structural integrity. Furthermore, films containing CSE exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity (up to 28.43% DPPH radical scavenging activity), as well as improved water vapor barrier properties and mechanical strength compared to the pure chitosan–gelatin. The films showed a yellowish appearance. There was a noticeable reduction in the rate of oxygen transmission through the films as well. These results highlight the potential of coffee silverskin as a sustainable source of functional compounds for the development of bioactive materials suited for biodegradable packaging and biomedical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Progress in the Polymer-Based Biomaterials)
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25 pages, 5646 KB  
Article
Isolation of Cellulose Nanofibers from Kombucha Beverage By-Product by Chemo-Mechanical Routes
by Cătălina-Diana Uşurelu, Gabriela-Mădălina Oprică, Denis Mihaela Panaitescu, Adriana Nicoleta Frone, Celina Maria Damian, Cristian Andi Nicolae, Ştefan-Ovidiu Dima, Florin Oancea and Mircea Teodorescu
Polymers 2025, 17(17), 2307; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17172307 - 26 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1400
Abstract
In a world where the negative consequences of natural resources’ overexploitation for the environment are increasingly evident, repurposing waste to obtain high-value goods becomes essential. This study proposes the isolation of cellulose nanofibers from the bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane that results as a [...] Read more.
In a world where the negative consequences of natural resources’ overexploitation for the environment are increasingly evident, repurposing waste to obtain high-value goods becomes essential. This study proposes the isolation of cellulose nanofibers from the bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane that results as a by-product during the fermentation of Kombucha tea by chemical treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), sulfuric acid (H2SO4) or citric acid, followed by mechanical fibrillation via high-speed homogenization and microfluidization. Treatments with NaOH, NaClO, and H2O2 were effective in the purification of Kombucha-derived BC, while H2SO4 and citric acid exhibited a rather weak cleaning action, as revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Besides their cleaning effect, the applied chemical pretreatments had an important effect on the degree of fibrillation attained, as indicated by the scanning electron microscopy images. This study proposes simple and effective routes to obtain bacterial cellulose nanofibers from an inexpensive and abundant source, commonly regarded as a waste material, which can be further applied in medical and packaging applications as reinforcing agents, adsorbent materials, or scaffolds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Progress in the Polymer-Based Biomaterials)
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Review

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24 pages, 3541 KB  
Review
Towards Intelligent Wound Care: Hydrogel-Based Wearable Monitoring and Therapeutic Platforms
by Yan Niu, Ziyao Zhao, Lihong Yang, Dan Lv, Rui Sun, Ting Zhang, Yuhan Li, Qianqian Bao, Mingqing Zhang, Lanzhong Wang, Wei Yan, Fei Han and Biwei Yan
Polymers 2025, 17(13), 1881; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17131881 - 6 Jul 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5206
Abstract
Chronic wounds present clinical challenges due to persistent inflammation, infection, and dysregulated tissue repair, often exacerbated by the passive nature of conventional wound dressings. Recent advancements in hydrogel-based wearable technologies have transformed these biomaterials into multifunctional platforms capable of integrating real-time monitoring and [...] Read more.
Chronic wounds present clinical challenges due to persistent inflammation, infection, and dysregulated tissue repair, often exacerbated by the passive nature of conventional wound dressings. Recent advancements in hydrogel-based wearable technologies have transformed these biomaterials into multifunctional platforms capable of integrating real-time monitoring and targeted therapy, ushering in a new era of intelligent wound care. In this review, we show innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, including wound-monitoring devices and multifunctional healing-promoted platforms, highlighting integrated closed-loop systems that dynamically adapt treatments to wound microenvironments, thus merging diagnostics and therapeutics. Challenges in fabrication engineering and clinical application are discussed, alongside emerging trends like AI-driven analytics and 3D-bioprinted technology. By bridging fragmented research, this work underscores the potential of hydrogels to enable intelligent wound management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Progress in the Polymer-Based Biomaterials)
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