polymers-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Collagen-Based Polymeric Materials for Emerging Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 638

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Interests: investigation of structures, properties, and applications of biopolymers; hierarchical structure of biopolymers; polysaccharide-based and protein-based composites; biopolymers interactions; preparation of biopolymer-based nanofibers; new applications of biopolymers in biomedicine, water treatment, energy storage, and intelligent sensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue highlights the rapidly evolving field of collagen-based polymeric materials and their transformative potential across a range of emerging applications. As a naturally abundant, biodegradable, and biocompatible protein, collagen offers unique advantages for designing advanced functional materials. Recent innovations in processing techniques—such as electrospinning, 3D bioprinting, solvent casting, and cross-linking methods—have enabled the development of collagen-based polymers with tailored mechanical, structural, and biological properties. These materials are increasingly being utilized in areas such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery systems, smart wound dressings, edible packaging, and bio-integrated electronics.

This Special Issue brings together research focusing on the synthesis, modification, and functionalization of collagen-derived polymers, as well as their integration with synthetic or natural additives to enhance performance. Special emphasis is placed on sustainable sourcing, eco-friendly processing, and scalable manufacturing approaches that align with global demands for green material solutions. Additionally, contributions exploring computational modeling, structure–property relationships, and in vitro/in vivo evaluation are encouraged. By providing a platform for interdisciplinary dialog among researchers in materials science, bioengineering, chemistry, and medical fields, this Special Issue aims to accelerate the development and real-world deployment of collagen-based polymeric materials in innovative and socially impactful applications.

Prof. Dr. Ying Pei
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

  • collagen
  • gelatin
  • advanced manufacturing
  • advanced materials
  • synthesis
  • modification
  • functionalization

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 4912 KB  
Article
[AMIM]Cl-Exfoliated Collagen Aggregates as Building Blocks for Structurally Defined Collagen Films
by Weifang Yang, Wei Li, Tian Chen, Lu Wang, Yingying Sun, Jing Zhang, Keyong Tang and Ying Pei
Polymers 2026, 18(5), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18050595 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 389
Abstract
The exceptional mechanical strength and toughness of collagen arise from its well-defined hierarchical architecture. Conventional methods for obtaining collagen aggregates (CAs), such as direct extraction from native tissues or acid swelling followed by mechanical processing, offer limited control over dimensional uniformity and provide [...] Read more.
The exceptional mechanical strength and toughness of collagen arise from its well-defined hierarchical architecture. Conventional methods for obtaining collagen aggregates (CAs), such as direct extraction from native tissues or acid swelling followed by mechanical processing, offer limited control over dimensional uniformity and provide little insight into the underlying exfoliation mechanisms. To overcome these challenges, this study introduces a novel strategy that leverages insights into the hierarchical interactions within collagen. We employ the ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([AMIM]Cl) as an exfoliating agent to successfully isolate fibrous CAs from native bovine tendon. By precisely modulating temperature and processing time, we achieve CAs with tunable mesoscale dimensions (diameter 0.9–1.1 μm, length > 160 μm). Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that [AMIM]Cl disrupts the intramolecular hydrogen-bonding network within collagen, thereby facilitating controlled exfoliation. These exfoliated aggregates serve as fundamental building blocks for fabricating collagen films. The resulting materials exhibit robust mechanical integrity, high transparency, reversible pH-responsive behavior, and excellent biocompatibility as verified by cytotoxicity assays, which together underscore their potential as versatile biomaterial platforms. Furthermore, the integration of single-walled carbon nanotubes yields conductive composites with confirmed electrical functionality. This study thus presents an innovative pathway for the precision processing of collagen and advances the design of high-performance collagen-based biomaterials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Collagen-Based Polymeric Materials for Emerging Applications)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop