Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications

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30 November 2026

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30 January 2027

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the Topic Issue “Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications”, organized in collaboration with the 21st National Symposium POLYMERS 2025. This Topic aims to present the most advanced, cutting-edge research in polymer science and engineering, highlighting its role in driving innovation across diverse scientific fields.

This Topic is focused on a wide range of topics, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of polymer research. Key focus areas include synthesizing polymers and macromolecular engineering, exploring novel methods and advanced designs for creating innovative polymer systems. The Topic also highlights advancements in biomaterials and nanomedicine, emphasizing the role of polymers in healthcare and biotechnology and hybrids and nanocomposites, presenting their potential for enhanced material properties. Further areas of interest include the processing and recycling of plastics, focusing on sustainable solutions for polymer applications and polymer materials for energy, which explores their contributions to renewable energy technologies. Additionally, contributions in reaction modeling and theoretical approaches aim to provide new insights into polymer behavior and development.

This Topic is dedicated to Professor Ivan Panayotov in recognition of his outstanding contributions to polymer science, his pioneering studies in ionic polymerization, and the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Dr. Emi Haladjova
Prof. Dr. Olya Stoilova
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Nano applnano	-	4.6	2020	15.7 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Macromol macromol	4.4	7.1	2021	23.3 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.3	9.2	2010	14 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Polymers polymers	4.9	9.7	2009	14.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Gels gels	5.3	7.6	2015	13.5 Days	CHF 2100	Submit

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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All Applied Nano Macromol Nanomaterials Polymers Gels

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18 pages, 3745 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Amino-Functionalized Poly(2-Ethyl-2-Oxazoline)-Ran-Poly[2-(3-Butenyl)-2-Oxazoline] Copolymers Used as Non-Viral Vectors for Nucleic Acid Delivery: Impact of Polymer Structure and Composition

by Denitsa Hristova, Natalia Oleszko-Torbus, Maria Petrova, Agnieszka Kowalczuk, Iva Ugrinova, Stanislav Rangelov and Emi Haladjova

Polymers 2026, 18(4), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18040536 - 22 Feb 2026

Viewed by 275

Abstract

In this work, we designed non-viral gene delivery vector systems based on three poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-ran-poly[2-(3-butenyl)-2-oxazoline] copolymers functionalized by primary, secondary, and tertiary amino groups. The impact of copolymer structure and composition was sought through the examination of basic physicochemical and biological parameters. The complexation [...] Read more.

In this work, we designed non-viral gene delivery vector systems based on three poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-ran-poly[2-(3-butenyl)-2-oxazoline] copolymers functionalized by primary, secondary, and tertiary amino groups. The impact of copolymer structure and composition was sought through the examination of basic physicochemical and biological parameters. The complexation ability of copolymers with plasmid DNA was studied by ethidium bromide quenching assay. The polyplex particles size and ζ-potential were determined by dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering. The release ability of copolymers was assessed by competitive displacement of DNA using dextran sulfate. The biological performance of amino-functionalized poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-ran-poly[2-(3-butenyl)-2-oxazoline] based gene delivery systems was evaluated, and their behavior under various environmental conditions, such as pH and ionic strength, was investigated. Cytotoxicity was assessed in two human lung-derived cell lines, and the ability of the copolymers to mediate plasmid DNA delivery and expression was examined. The resulting polyplex nanoparticles exhibited the ability to release DNA molecules and sensitivity to alterations in pH and ionic strength. All systems showed high biocompatibility and were able to mediate plasmid DNA delivery, resulting in detectable EGFP expression in vitro. The vector properties were found to be driven by a multifactorial interplay among hydrophobic character, thermoresponsive behavior, polymer mobility, charge accessibility, intracellular environmental responsiveness, secondary structure effects, etc. The copolymer bearing primary amino groups displayed a distinct balance between DNA binding and release, characterized by moderate complex stability and enhanced sensitivity to environmental changes. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how amino functionality and polymer structure influence the structure–property–behavior relationships of polyoxazoline-based non-viral gene delivery systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications)

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25 pages, 7564 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Comb-like and Coil-Comb Polystyrene–Polyglycidol Copolymers via Click Chemistry: Self-Assembly and Biological Evaluation

by Natalia Toncheva-Moncheva, Erik Dimitrov, Niya Delcheva, Denitsa Momekova, Magdalena Kondeva-Burdina, Denitsa Stefanova, Virginia Tzankova, Stergios Pispas and Stanislav Rangelov

Polymers 2026, 18(4), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18040517 - 19 Feb 2026

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Abstract

Amphiphilic copolymers based on polystyrene and polyglycidol combine the chemical inertness of polystyrene with the biocompatibility of polyglycidol, making them attractive materials for polymeric micelles. While comb-like architectures have been explored to control micellization behavior and biological response, a direct comparison between comb-like [...] Read more.

Amphiphilic copolymers based on polystyrene and polyglycidol combine the chemical inertness of polystyrene with the biocompatibility of polyglycidol, making them attractive materials for polymeric micelles. While comb-like architectures have been explored to control micellization behavior and biological response, a direct comparison between comb-like and coil-comb topologies in polystyrene–polyglycidol copolymers at identical polyglycidol content remains insufficiently investigated. In this work, amphiphilic comb-like and coil-comb polystyrene–polyglycidol copolymers were synthesized via copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne click chemistry by grafting a monoalkyne-terminated polyglycidol precursor onto azide-functionalized random and block styrene copolymers. The copolymers were characterized by size exclusion chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance. Polymeric micelles were prepared by nanoprecipitation, and their self-assembly in aqueous solution was investigated by critical micelle concentration determination, dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy. Both copolymers formed stable aqueous dispersions and exhibited comparable critical micelle concentrations. At identical polyglycidol content, the random copolymer formed a uniform, monomodal micellar population, whereas the block-based coil-comb architecture led to bimodal size distributions, indicating the coexistence of two distinct micellar populations. The investigated systems showed low cytotoxicity and did not induce significant oxidative stress within the studied concentration range. On isolated rat brain sub-cellular fractions (synaptosomes, mitochondria and microsomes), administered alone, the comb-like and coil-comb polystyrene-polyglycidol copolymers did not reveal statistically significant neurotoxic effects. The results demonstrate that macromolecular architecture plays a key role in governing micellar organization and in vitro biological response in polystyrene–polyglycidol copolymers, highlighting their potential as architecture-controlled polymer-based nanocarriers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications)

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19 pages, 3590 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Aggressive Liquid Media on the Properties of Swelling Rubbers Filled with Carboxymethylated Cellulose

by Abdirakym Nakyp, Elena Cherezova, Yulia Karaseva, Aida Dauylbek and Rakhymzhan Turmanov

Macromol 2026, 6(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol6010001 - 25 Dec 2025

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Abstract

The stability of physical and mechanical properties of highly filled swelling rubbers in polar and nonpolar liquids (oil, mineralized water) was studied. Nitrile butadiene rubber of BNKS-28 AMN grade served as the elastomer matrix, with sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) as the swelling [...] Read more.

The stability of physical and mechanical properties of highly filled swelling rubbers in polar and nonpolar liquids (oil, mineralized water) was studied. Nitrile butadiene rubber of BNKS-28 AMN grade served as the elastomer matrix, with sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) as the swelling filler. Oxal T-92, a mixture of dioxane alcohols (10–50 phr, step 10 phr), was used as a plasticizer due to its good thermodynamic miscibility with rubber (confirmed by Scatchard–Hildebrand calculations). Adding Oxal T-92 to NaCMC-filled compounds markedly reduced Mooney viscosity, improving processing through increased macromolecule mobility, without significantly affecting vulcanization kinetics—indicating chemical inertness toward crosslinking centers. Increasing Oxal T-92 from 10 to 50 phr reduced tensile strength from 4.1 MPa to 2.9 MPa. Swelling in aqueous solutions of varying mineralization was evaluated via volume and mass change. The optimal plasticizer content for high swelling with acceptable strength is 20–30 phr. After 3 days in oil and formation water, NaCMC-filled rubbers retained stable physical and mechanical properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications)

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15 pages, 2491 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Multilayer Cyclo-Olefin Polymer Films for Enhanced OLED Encapsulation

by Ji-Hoon Park and Kwan-Young Han

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(20), 1587; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201587 - 17 Oct 2025

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Abstract

The development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for high-resolution, large-area displays relies on effective encapsulation technology. Accordingly, this study proposes a novel multilayer structure utilizing a cyclo-olefin polymer-based film. This solution significantly reduces process time and cost while achieving remarkable barrier performance. Optimization [...] Read more.

The development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for high-resolution, large-area displays relies on effective encapsulation technology. Accordingly, this study proposes a novel multilayer structure utilizing a cyclo-olefin polymer-based film. This solution significantly reduces process time and cost while achieving remarkable barrier performance. Optimization involved presenting various models and enhancing substrate–film adhesion via ultraviolet or plasma treatment, consequently improving water vapor transmission rate. Furthermore, the optimized structure’s feasibility as an OLED encapsulation layer was confirmed. These results promise to enhance core technological capabilities, improving production yield and minimizing costs—key factors for next-generation displays. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications)

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22 pages, 9565 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Directed Self-Assembly of an Acid-Responsive Block Copolymer for Hole-Shrink Process and Pattern Transfer

by Jianghao Zhan, Jiacheng Luo, Zixin Zhuo, Caiwei Shang, Zili Li and Shisheng Xiong

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(20), 1571; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201571 - 16 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2378

Abstract

Directed self-assembly (DSA) of polystyrene-block-poly (methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) has garnered substantial interest for semiconductor manufacturing, particularly for fabricating contact holes and vias. However, its application is limited by the low etch selectivity between the PS and PMMA domains. Here, we report [...] Read more.

Directed self-assembly (DSA) of polystyrene-block-poly (methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) has garnered substantial interest for semiconductor manufacturing, particularly for fabricating contact holes and vias. However, its application is limited by the low etch selectivity between the PS and PMMA domains. Here, we report an acid-responsive block copolymer, PS-N=CH-PMMA, incorporating a Schiff base (-N=CH-) linkage between the two blocks to impart acid sensitivity. The copolymer is synthesized via aldehyde-terminated PMMA (PMMA-CHO) precursors and is fully compatible with conventional thermal annealing workflows used for PS-b-PMMA. Uniform thin films with vertically oriented cylindrical domains were obtained, which could be directly converted into high-fidelity PS masks through acetic acid immersion without UV exposure. Graphoepitaxial DSA in 193i pre-patterned templates produced shrink-hole patterns with reduced critical dimension (CD) and improved local CD uniformity (LCDU). The shrink-hole CD was tunable by varying PMMA-CHO molecular weights. XPS confirmed selective cleavage of Schiff base linkages at the PS/PMMA interface under acidic conditions, while Ohta–Kawasaki simulations indicated interfacial wetting asymmetry governs etch fidelity and residual layer formation. Pattern transfer into TEOS layers was achieved with minimal CD loss. Overall, the acid-cleavable BCP enables scalable, high-fidelity nanopatterning with improved etch contrast, tunable process windows, and seamless integration into existing PS-b-PMMA lithography platforms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications)

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15 pages, 4167 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Graphene Quantum Dots on Thermal Properties of Epoxy Using Molecular Dynamics

by Swapnil S. Bamane and Ozgur Keles

Appl. Nano 2025, 6(3), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/applnano6030015 - 20 Aug 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1677

Abstract

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are crucial for their applications in aerospace, electronics, defense, and structural materials. PMCs reinforced with nanofillers offer substantial potential for enhanced thermal and mechanical performance. Although there have been significant developments in nanofiller-based high-performance composites involving graphene, carbon nanotubes, [...] Read more.

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are crucial for their applications in aerospace, electronics, defense, and structural materials. PMCs reinforced with nanofillers offer substantial potential for enhanced thermal and mechanical performance. Although there have been significant developments in nanofiller-based high-performance composites involving graphene, carbon nanotubes, and metal oxides, the smallest of all the fillers, the graphene quantum dot (GQD), has not been explored thoroughly. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of GQDs on the thermal properties of epoxy nanocomposites using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Specifically, the influence of GQDs on the glass transition temperature (T_g) and coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CTE) of the bisphenol F epoxy is evaluated. Further, the effects of surface functionalization and edge functionalization of GQDs are analyzed. Results demonstrate that the inclusion of functionalized GQDs leads to a 16% improvement in T_g, attributed to enhanced interfacial interactions and restricted molecular mobility in the epoxy network. MD simulations reveal that functional groups on GQDs form strong physical and chemical interactions with the polymer matrix, effectively altering its dynamics at the T_g. These results provide key molecular-level insights into the design of the next generation of thermally stable epoxy nanocomposites for high-performance applications in aerospace and defense. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications)

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19 pages, 2191 KB  

Open AccessArticle

In Vivo Study on 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid Nerve Tubes for Sciatic Nerve Injury Treatment

by Salih Kavuncu, Rauf Hamid and Ömer Faruk Sarıahmetoğlu

Polymers 2025, 17(14), 1992; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17141992 - 21 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1180

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Nerve injuries cause functional loss and psychosocial issues due to prolonged rehabilitation. Recently, 3D-modeled nerve conduits have been used to aid in surgical planning. This study investigated the impact of 3D-bioprinted PLA, chitosan, alginate, and collagen conduits on nerve regeneration in a [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Nerve injuries cause functional loss and psychosocial issues due to prolonged rehabilitation. Recently, 3D-modeled nerve conduits have been used to aid in surgical planning. This study investigated the impact of 3D-bioprinted PLA, chitosan, alginate, and collagen conduits on nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve crush injury model. Methods: This study, conducted at Kütahya University of Health Sciences, involves 50 rats were divided into four groups: (1) sham-operated controls, (2) sciatic nerve injury without treatment, (3) injury treated with a PLA conduit, and (4) injury treated with 3D-printed tubes composed of chitosan and alginate. The procedures were performed, blood was collected, and the rats were sacrificed after two months. Weekly checks for infection, scar healing, and motor responses were performed. Results: Rats with nerve conduits showed less macroscopic scarring. Weekly assessments of motor nerve recovery showed no movement restrictions in limbs treated with PLA conduits, graft conduits, or conduits bridging retracted nerve stumps, based on responses to stimulus checks. An infection developed in the sciatic nerve and surrounding muscle tissue of one rat with a bio-graft conduit, prompting histopathological examination to investigate its cause. Conclusions: This proof-of-principle study demonstrates the feasibility of using 3D-printed biocompatible nerve conduits for peripheral nerve repair, providing a basis for future, more comprehensive investigations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Future Trends in Polymer Science: Materials, Design, and Advanced Applications)

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