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Advanced Polymers for Medical Applications, 2nd Edition
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Advanced Polymers for Medical 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 August 2025 | Viewed by 7158

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Daniela Vieira Buchaim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, Postgraduate Department, University of Marilia (UNIMAR), Marília 17525-902, Brazil
Interests: regenerative medicine; scaffolds; fibrin sealant; photobiomodulation; bone repair; nerve regeneration; nerve repair; bone regeneration; fibrin biopolymer; low-level laser therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tissue engineering, currently in the medical field, has as a great challenge to develop research investigating new methods of treatments available in the face of injuries where reconstruction does not occur independently, with the objective of forming a new tissue with morphofunctional characteristics identical to the original tissue. This research, aiming at translational medicine, occurs in an interdisciplinary way within the medical area in various pathologies. Therefore, this Special Issue seeks to confront scientific barriers with innovations in polymeric materials, from their production, development, and pre-clinical and clinical studies, of natural or synthetic origin, which bring positive and beneficial effects from the bench to the bed.

This Special Issue is dedicated to reviews, meta-analyses, clinical, and preclinical studies of the different uses of polymers in medicine.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Vieira Buchaim
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

  • polymers
  • medicine
  • scaffolds
  • regenerative medicine
  • biomaterials
  • biopolymers
  • 3D bioprinting
  • translational science
  • tissue regeneration
  • drug delivery system

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4497 KiB  
Article
Adhesion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Glycated Collagen—Comparative Analysis of Dynamic and Static Conditions
by Regina Komsa-Penkova, Anika Alexandrova-Watanabe, Svetla Todinova, Violina Ivanova, Svetoslava Stoycheva, Petar Temnishki, Borislav Dimitrov, Dobromir Dimitrov, Pencho Tonchev, Galya Georgieva, Aleksandar Kukov, Izabela Ivanova, Tihomir Tiankov, Emilia Abadjieva, Velichka Strijkova and George Altankov
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060821 - 20 Mar 2025
Viewed by 564
Abstract
Understanding mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) behavior on glycated collagen is crucial for advancing regenerative medicine and understanding pathological mechanisms in diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and aging. While previous research has demonstrated reduced MSC interaction with glycated collagen under static conditions due to [...] Read more.
Understanding mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) behavior on glycated collagen is crucial for advancing regenerative medicine and understanding pathological mechanisms in diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and aging. While previous research has demonstrated reduced MSC interaction with glycated collagen under static conditions due to disrupted integrin signaling, these studies did not accurately replicate the dynamic mechanical environment that MSCs encounter in vivo. Here we present a comprehensive investigation comparing adipose-derived MSC (ADMSC) behavior under both dynamic flow conditions and static adhesion, revealing unexpected temporal dynamics and challenging existing paradigms of cell–matrix interactions. Using a sophisticated microfluidic BioFlux system combined with traditional static adhesion assays, we examined ADMSC interactions with native collagen for 1-day glycated (GL1), and 5-day glycated (GL5) samples. Under flow conditions, MSCs demonstrated remarkably rapid attachment—within 3–5 min—contrasting sharply with the classical 2 h static incubation protocol. This rapid adhesion was particularly enhanced on 5-day glycated collagen, though subsequent testing revealed significantly weaker adhesion strength under shear stress compared to native collagen. Static conditions also showed a distinct pattern: increased ADMSC adhesion to glycated samples within the first 30 min, followed by a progressive decrease in adhesion and compromised cell spreading over longer periods. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis revealed significant changes in collagen surface properties upon glycation. These included a substantial reduction in the negative surface charge (from ~800 to 600 mV), altered surface roughness patterns (Rrms varying from 3.0 ± 0.4 nm in native collagen to 7.70 ± 0.6 nm in GL5), and decreased elasticity (Young’s modulus dropping from 34.8 ± 5.4 MPa to 2.07 ± 0.3 MPa in GL5). These physical alterations appear to facilitate rapid initial cell attachment while potentially compromising long-term stable adhesion through traditional integrin-mediated mechanisms. This study provides novel insights into the complex dynamics of MSC adhesion to glycated collagen, revealing previously unknown temporal patterns and challenging existing models of cell–matrix interactions. The findings suggest a need for revised approaches in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, particularly in conditions where glycated collagen is prevalent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymers for Medical Applications, 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 2535 KiB  
Article
Experimental Optimization of Tannic Acid-Crosslinked Hydrogels for Neomycin Delivery in Infected Wounds
by Peerapat Chidchai, Kanokwan Singpanna, Supusson Pengnam, Thapakorn Charoenying, Boonnada Pamornpathomkul, Prasopchai Patrojanasophon, Prin Chaksmithanont and Chaiyakarn Pornpitchanarong
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060770 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 649
Abstract
Wound infections pose a significant challenge in healthcare settings due to prolonged healing times and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Traditional wound dressings often fail to provide sustained drug release, optimal moisture retention, and effective antibacterial protection, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. This [...] Read more.
Wound infections pose a significant challenge in healthcare settings due to prolonged healing times and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Traditional wound dressings often fail to provide sustained drug release, optimal moisture retention, and effective antibacterial protection, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. This study aimed to optimize and develop neomycin-integrated hydrogels crosslinked via tannic acid (TA) for the treatment of infectious wounds. The hydrogels were optimized using a central composite experimental design. The amounts of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, 10–20% w/w) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, 5–20% w/w) were varied and mixed with a fixed concentration of TA (1% w/w) as a crosslinker. The water content (%), water absorption (%), erosion (%), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and the mechanical properties of the hydrogels were evaluated. Neomycin was integrated in the optimized hydrogel, and the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was studied using a time-kill analysis method. The optimal hydrogel formula contained PVA and PVP at a ratio of 20:19.89 by weight. The resulting hydrogel possessed good physical and mechanical properties and had a water content of 71.86%, water absorption of 124.96%, minimal erosion of 33.08%, and optimal WVTR of 5567 g/m2/24 h. Furthermore, the hydrogel showed desirable elasticity, with a Young’s modulus of 474.81 Pa and a tensile strength that could resist breakage upon application. The neomycin-integrated hydrogels inhibited bacterial growth comparably to the neomycin solution (0.5% w/v). Therefore, TA was proven to be a promising natural crosslinker and the optimized hydrogel was demonstrated to be a propitious platform for neomycin cutaneous application, and which could be used to treat infected wounds in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymers for Medical Applications, 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 2926 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Relationship Between the Emulsification Parameters and Physical–Chemical Properties of Poly(D,L-lactic acid) Particles for Dermal Fillers
by Chen-Ying Su, You-Cheng Chang, Bo-Rong Lu and Hsu-Wei Fang
Polymers 2024, 16(23), 3395; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16233395 - 1 Dec 2024
Viewed by 2588
Abstract
Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) particles have been applied as dermal fillers for soft-tissue augmentation because they can induce foreign-body reactions, resulting in fibroblast proliferation and collagen formation. Although PLLA and PDLLA fillers are safe and biocompatible, clinical complications such as [...] Read more.
Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) particles have been applied as dermal fillers for soft-tissue augmentation because they can induce foreign-body reactions, resulting in fibroblast proliferation and collagen formation. Although PLLA and PDLLA fillers are safe and biocompatible, clinical complications such as nodules and granulomas have been reported, possibly due to incomplete reconstitution. PDLLA particles were prepared via emulsification in this study, and three stirring speeds were investigated when adding PDLLA into carboxymethyl cellulose solution. The particle size, molecular weight of PDLLA, optical rotation, pH value, osmotic pressure, and reconstitution time were analyzed. A rabbit dorsal ear model was established to evaluate the soft-tissue augmentation of a commercial PDLLA filler. The results demonstrated that the stirring speed affected the particle size, but not other physical–chemical properties of the PDLLA particles. All the PDLLA particles were reconstituted in less than 7 min, which is faster than the process for the other commercial PDLLA dermal filler products. In addition, the PDLLA particles could induce inflammation and fibroblast proliferation. Although the PDLLA particles generated in this study have not yet been investigated in vivo, the results demonstrated here suggest their potential for application as dermal fillers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymers for Medical Applications, 2nd Edition)
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Graphical abstract

20 pages, 76728 KiB  
Article
Innovative Biocompatible Blend Scaffold of Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) and Poly(ε-caprolactone) for Bone Tissue Engineering: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation
by Amália Baptista-Perianes, Marcia Mayumi Omi Simbara, Sônia Maria Malmonge, Marcelo Rodrigues da Cunha, Daniela Vieira Buchaim, Maria Angelica Miglino, Elias Naim Kassis, Rogerio Leone Buchaim and Arnaldo Rodrigues Santos, Jr.
Polymers 2024, 16(21), 3054; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16213054 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 2743
Abstract
This study evaluated the biocompatibility of dense and porous forms of Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and their 75/25 blend for bone tissue engineering applications. The biomaterials were characterized morphologically using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the thickness [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the biocompatibility of dense and porous forms of Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and their 75/25 blend for bone tissue engineering applications. The biomaterials were characterized morphologically using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the thickness and porosity of the scaffolds were determined. Functional assessments of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) included the MTT assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) production, and morphological and cytochemical analyses. Moreover, these polymers were implanted into rats to evaluate their in vivo performance. The morphology and FTIR spectra of the scaffolds were consistent with the expected results. Porous polymers were thicker than dense polymers, and porosity was higher than 92% in all samples. The cells exhibited good viability, activity, and growth on the scaffolds. A higher number of cells was observed on dense polymers, likely due to their smaller surface area. ALP production occurred in all samples, but enzyme activity was more intense in PCL samples. The scaffolds did not interfere with the osteogenic capacity of MSCs, and mineralized nodules were present in all samples. Histological analysis revealed new bone formation in all samples, although pure PHBV exhibited lower results compared to the other blends. In vivo results indicated that dense PCL and the dense 75/25 blend were the best materials tested, with PCL tending to improve the performance of PHBV in vivo. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymers for Medical Applications, 2nd Edition)
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