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Polymers
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Smart and Functional Biopolymers
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Smart and Functional Biopolymers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 1667

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Fabiano André Narciso Fernandes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza 60440-900, Brazil
Interests: food processing and engineering; biodegradable polymeric films; chemical engineering; food chemistry; food analysis; starch
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Smart, intelligent, or responsive biopolymers are materials derived from biological sources that exhibit responsive behaviors to external stimuli such as temperature, pH, light, or magnetic fields. These materials have gained significant attention due to their potential applications in various industries, offering sustainable and innovative solutions. Biopolymers are typically sourced from renewable resources like plants, algae, and microorganisms, making them a more sustainable option. Their biodegradability ensures they break down naturally, reducing the environmental footprint and addressing the growing concern over plastic waste. Despite their advantages, their adoption faces several challenges. The production cost is often higher than that of conventional polymers, and there are still technical problems in scaling up manufacturing processes. Furthermore, novel applications and materials are still required, as well as advances in current known smart biopolymers. Smart biopolymers represent a promising frontier in material science, potentially transforming various industries through their responsive and sustainable properties.

Prof. Dr. Fabiano André Narciso Fernandes
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

  • development and applications of smart biopolymers and sensors
  • synthesis and production methods
  • biomedical applications
  • food packaging or coating innovations
  • agricultural applications
  • mechanical, physical, and chemical properties
  • recycling and reusability
  • 3D printing of smart biopolymers and sensors

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1818 KB  
Article
pH-Sensitive Release of Functionalized Chiral Carbon Dots from PLGA Coatings on Titanium Alloys for Biomedical Applications
by Roberto López-Muñoz, Pascale Chevallier, Francesco Copes, Rafik Naccache and Diego Mantovani
Polymers 2025, 17(19), 2667; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17192667 - 2 Oct 2025
Viewed by 497
Abstract
Titanium and its alloys are the most widely used metallic materials for bone contact implants. However, despite advances in implant technology, these alloys are still susceptible to post-operative clinical complications such as inflammation, which is often joined by infections and biofilm formation. A [...] Read more.
Titanium and its alloys are the most widely used metallic materials for bone contact implants. However, despite advances in implant technology, these alloys are still susceptible to post-operative clinical complications such as inflammation, which is often joined by infections and biofilm formation. A number of coatings were studied to overcome the drawbacks of these complications, but the controlled release of bioactive molecules over the first few days and the adhesion of the coating to the substrate remain recognized challenges. Carbon dots and the antibacterial potential of chiral carbon dots (CCDs) were recently reported, and their chirality was identified as a major contribution to the bactericidal effect. This study aimed to achieve a stimuli-responsive medium-term controlled release for up to one month. Two types of chiral carbon dots (CCDs) with distinct functional groups were incorporated into a stable and adherent biodegradable polymer coating, i.e., poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). To enhance the coating adhesion, the titanium alloy surfaces were pre-treated and activated. The wettability, morphology, and surface composition of the coatings were characterized by contact angle, profilometry, SEM, and XPS, respectively. Coating degradation, adhesion, and CCDs release were studied at physiological pH (7.4) and at an acidic pH characteristic of an inflammatory site (pH 3.0) for up to one month. Their biological performances and blood compatibility were assessed as well. Degradation studies conducted over 28 days revealed a slow mass loss of approximately 10%, with maximum release rates for CCDs-OH and CCDs-NH2 of 67% and 45% at pH 7.4, respectively. At pH 3.0 an inverse trend was observed with 49% and 59% maximum release after 28 days. Furthermore, the coatings did not exhibit any cytotoxic and hemolytic effects. These findings demonstrate the potential of this approach to providing titanium implants with pH-sensitive controlled release of bioactive CCDs lasting up to one month, which could address key challenges in implant-associated complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Biopolymers)
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17 pages, 2744 KB  
Article
Development of Plasma-Treated Corn-Starch-Based Film Incorporated with Acerola and Grape Pomace Extract Possessing pH-Sensing Capability
by Mayara Lima Goiana, Morsyleide de Freitas Rosa, Adriano Lincoln Albuquerque Mattos and Fabiano André Narciso Fernandes
Polymers 2025, 17(7), 938; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070938 - 30 Mar 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 873
Abstract
This study explores the development of biodegradable starch-based films treated with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma and incorporated with acerola residue and grape pomace extracts. The primary aim was to enhance the films’ physicochemical properties and introduce pH-sensing capabilities. Plasma treatment at 200 [...] Read more.
This study explores the development of biodegradable starch-based films treated with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma and incorporated with acerola residue and grape pomace extracts. The primary aim was to enhance the films’ physicochemical properties and introduce pH-sensing capabilities. Plasma treatment at 200 Hz for 20 min modified the films’ amylose content (by 13.2%), solubility (by 13.3%), contact angle (by 12.7%), moisture content (by 14.2%), and surface morphology. The addition of the extracts changed the short-range ordered structure parameters of the films (by 111.4%), solubility (by 11.1%), moisture content (by 18.4%), and water vapor permeability (by 6.1%). The films with acerola residue and grape pomace extracts exhibited good colorimetric responses for pH indication. The films with acerola residue extract tended to intensify the yellowish color, while those with grape pomace extract showed more significant color changes varying from purple to green. Integrating natural pigments like anthocyanins from grape pomace and carotenoids from acerola improved the films’ functional properties and provided a visual indication of food freshness through pH changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Biopolymers)
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