Synthesis and Applications of Natural Polymers and Their Derivatives

Dear Colleagues,

Natural polymers have received increasing attention due to their specific advantages, which include the fact that they are obtained from renewable resources, and their biocompatible, biodegradable, generally non-toxic, non-immunogenic, non-carcinogenic, specific physicochemical properties. The most important polymers whose synthesis can be controlled are polysaccharides, polyesters, and proteins from microbial sources (bacteria, microscopic fungi), or macroscopic fungi (mushrooms). The relatively slow and limited rate of production and the complexity of the composition of the organic sources from which they originate, however, represent challenges for those who study their synthesis and purification. However, their useful unique properties, as well as the enormous area of their derivatives (chemically modified, composites), such as sponges, folies, films, fibers, and nanoparticles, and, consequently, the large diversity and importance of potential applications, require researchers’ efforts. From biomedical and pharmaceutical applications (antimicrobial, antitumoral, drug delivery, tissue engineering) to food packaging, technique and the protection of the environment, the full commercial potential of these advancements has yet to be realized in everyday life.

This Special Issue aims to publish original research papers and review articles focusing on the synthesis of natural-based polymers, their derivatives (chemically synthesized, composites), different processing techniques and resulted products, potential applications, and new outlooks.

Dr. Misu Moscovici
Prof. Dr. Guibin Wang
Prof. Dr. Alejandro Rodríguez Pascual
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

• biological synthesis
• semisynthetic derivatives
• polysaccharides and polyhydroxyalkanoates
• fungal proteins
• processing techniques
• composites
• nanoparticles
• biomedical
• pharmaceutical
• drug delivery systems
• food protection applications