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Smart and Functional Polymers
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Smart and Functional Polymers

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2018) | Viewed by 106466

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jianxun Ding

grade E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun 130022, China
Interests: polymer chemistry; self-assembly; nanoparticle; hydrogel; scaffold; biomaterial; controlled drug delivery; immunotherapy; regenerative medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yang Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
Interests: polymer chemistry; supramolecular self-assembly; nanomedicine; biomaterials; molecular imaging; drug delivery; immunotherapy; cancer surgery
Dr. Mingqiang Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Professor, Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
Interests: biomaterials; controlled-release; microphysiological system; microfluidics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymerization offers a powerful and modular strategy in generating macromolecules and structures with high complexity and versatile functionality. Smart and functional polymers, to which functional groups are chemically attached, have drawn growing interest as they hold considerable promise for a variety of applications. Smart polymers can be constructed via polymerization of functional monomers or post-polymerization modifications. These polymers possess the combination of the physical properties of nanoscale or microscale architectures and physiochemical reactivities of the attached functional groups. Moreover, their ability to form microscopic and macroscopic assemblies in response to external targets or signals renders unique physiochemical properties (e.g., large surface-to-volume ratio, variable composition and size, dynamic association, and reversible phase separation) and tailored functionalities (e.g., enhanced sensitivity and specificity, extraordinary target binding affinity, and tunable surface chemistry) that are absent in small molecules.

Smart and functional polymeric material is an interdisciplinary field that integrates physics, chemistry, material science, engineering, and biology. Over the past decade, the field has experienced rapid progress as a result of the push by unmet needs in various areas. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive collection of the latest advances in the development of synthetic approaches, mechanism underlying structure-property correlations, and current and emerging applications of smart and functional polymers. The issue will cover smart and functional polymers for a diverse range of applications, involving but not limited in synthetic chemistry, analytical chemistry, materials science, environmental science, industrial fabrication, electronics, renewable energy, food science, agriculture, biomedical technology, and healthcare.

Considering your prominent contribution in this very active field of research, we would like to cordially invite you to submit an article to this Special Issue. Short communications, full research articles, and timely reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Jianxun Ding
Dr. Yang Li
Dr. Mingqiang Li
Guest Editors

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. Molecules 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

  • Polymerization or post-polymerization modification methods
  • Polymer-based supramolecular chemistry
  • Stimuli-responsive polymers
  • Shape memory polymers
  • Self-healing polymers
  • Polymers for industrial catalysis
  • Polymers for water or effluent treatment
  • Polymers for sensing, separation, and purification
  • Polymers for fabrication
  • Renewable polymeric materials used for agriculture
  • Functional polymers used in food science
  • Polymers for information storage, electronics, and energy conversion
  • Functional polymer for diagnosis, imaging, drug delivery, and tissue engineering
  • Polymer with biological activity (e.g., anti-tumor, anti-diabetic or anti-microbial activity)
  • Polymer-based medical device

Published Papers (18 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 186 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue: “Smart and Functional Polymers”
by Xiangru Feng, Mingqiang Li, Yang Li and Jianxun Ding
Molecules 2019, 24(16), 2976; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24162976 - 16 Aug 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3172
Abstract
Polymerization provides an efficient strategy for synthesizing macromolecules with versatile functionality [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

14 pages, 4948 KiB  
Article
PEGylated Polyurea Bearing Hindered Urea Bond for Drug Delivery
by Meishan Chen, Xiangru Feng, Weiguo Xu, Yanqiao Wang, Yanan Yang, Zhongyu Jiang and Jianxun Ding
Molecules 2019, 24(8), 1538; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24081538 - 18 Apr 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3263
Abstract
In recent years, polyureas with dynamic hindered urea bonds (HUBs), a class of promising biomedical polymers, have attracted wide attention as a result of their controlled hydrolytic properties. The effect of the chemical structures on the properties of polyureas and their assemblies has [...] Read more.
In recent years, polyureas with dynamic hindered urea bonds (HUBs), a class of promising biomedical polymers, have attracted wide attention as a result of their controlled hydrolytic properties. The effect of the chemical structures on the properties of polyureas and their assemblies has rarely been reported. In this study, four kinds of polyureas with different chemical groups have been synthesized, and the polyureas from cyclohexyl diisocyanate and tert-butyl diamine showed the fastest hydrolytic rate. The amphiphilic polyurea composed of hydrophobic cyclohexyl-tert-butyl polyurea and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was synthesized for the controlled delivery of the antitumor drug paclitaxel (PTX). The PTX-loaded PEGylated polyurea micelle more effectively entered into the murine breast cancer 4T1 cells and inhibited the corresponding tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the PEGylated polyurea with adjustable degradation might be a promising polymer matrix for drug delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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13 pages, 1463 KiB  
Article
Structure Characterization and Otoprotective Effects of a New Endophytic Exopolysaccharide from Saffron
by Juan Li, Guimei Wu, Cuiying Qin, Wuhai Chen, Gang Chen and Lu Wen
Molecules 2019, 24(4), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24040749 - 19 Feb 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3052
Abstract
Saffron, a kind of rare medicinal herb with antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities, is the dry stigma of Crocus sativus L. A new water-soluble endophytic exopolysaccharide (EPS-2) was isolated from saffron by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The chemical structure was characterized [...] Read more.
Saffron, a kind of rare medicinal herb with antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities, is the dry stigma of Crocus sativus L. A new water-soluble endophytic exopolysaccharide (EPS-2) was isolated from saffron by anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The chemical structure was characterized by FT-IR, GC-MS, and 1D and 2D-NMR spectra, indicating that EPS-2 has a main backbone of (1→2)-linked α-d-Manp, (1→2, 4)-linked α-d-Manp, (1→4)-linked α-d-Xylp, (1→2, 3, 5)-linked β-d-Araf, (1→6)- linked α-d-Glcp with α-d-Glcp-(1→ and α-d-Galp-(1→ as sidegroups. Furthermore, EPS-2 significantly attenuated gentamicin-induced cell damage in cultured HEI-OC1 cells and increased cell survival in zebrafish model. The results suggested that EPS-2 could protect cochlear hair cells from ototoxicity exposure. This study could provide new insights for studies on the pharmacological mechanisms of endophytic exopolysaccharides from saffron as otoprotective agents Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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Graphical abstract

10 pages, 2505 KiB  
Article
Rare Earth Hydroxide as a Precursor for Controlled Fabrication of Uniform β-NaYF4 Nanoparticles: A Novel, Low Cost, and Facile Method
by Lili Xu, Man Wang, Qing Chen, Jiajia Yang, Wubin Zheng, Guanglei Lv, Zewei Quan and Chunxia Li
Molecules 2019, 24(2), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24020357 - 19 Jan 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3832
Abstract
In recent years, rare earth doped upconversion nanocrystals have been widely used in different fields owing to their unique merits. Although rare earth chlorides and trifluoroacetates are commonly used precursors for the synthesis of nanocrystals, they have certain disadvantages. For example, rare earth [...] Read more.
In recent years, rare earth doped upconversion nanocrystals have been widely used in different fields owing to their unique merits. Although rare earth chlorides and trifluoroacetates are commonly used precursors for the synthesis of nanocrystals, they have certain disadvantages. For example, rare earth chlorides are expensive and rare earth trifluoroacetates produce toxic gases during the reaction. To overcome these drawbacks, we use the less expensive rare earth hydroxide as a precursor to synthesize β-NaYF4 nanoparticles with multiform shapes and sizes. Small-sized nanocrystals (15 nm) can be obtained by precisely controlling the synthesis conditions. Compared with the previous methods, the current method is more facile and has lower cost. In addition, the defects of the nanocrystal surface are reduced through constructing core–shell structures, resulting in enhanced upconversion luminescence intensity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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Graphical abstract

17 pages, 9921 KiB  
Article
Fluoropolymer-Containing Opals and Inverse Opals by Melt-Shear Organization
by Julia Kredel, Christian Dietz and Markus Gallei
Molecules 2019, 24(2), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24020333 - 17 Jan 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4942
Abstract
The preparation of highly ordered colloidal architectures has attracted significant attention and is a rapidly growing field for various applications, e.g., sensors, absorbers, and membranes. A promising technique for the preparation of elastomeric inverse opal films relies on tailored core/shell particle architectures and [...] Read more.
The preparation of highly ordered colloidal architectures has attracted significant attention and is a rapidly growing field for various applications, e.g., sensors, absorbers, and membranes. A promising technique for the preparation of elastomeric inverse opal films relies on tailored core/shell particle architectures and application of the so-called melt-shear organization technique. Within the present work, a convenient route for the preparation of core/shell particles featuring highly fluorinated shell materials as building blocks is described. As particle core materials, both organic or inorganic (SiO2) particles can be used as a template, followed by a semi-continuous stepwise emulsion polymerization for the synthesis of the soft fluoropolymer shell material. The use of functional monomers as shell-material offers the possibility to create opal and inverse opal films with striking optical properties according to Bragg’s law of diffraction. Due to the presence of fluorinated moieties, the chemical resistance of the final opals and inverse opals is increased. The herein developed fluorine-containing particle-based films feature a low surface energy for the matrix material leading to good hydrophobic properties. Moreover, the low refractive index of the fluoropolymer shell compared to the core (or voids) led to excellent optical properties based on structural colors. The herein described fluoropolymer opals and inverse opals are expected to pave the way toward novel functional materials for application in fields of coatings and optical sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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Graphical abstract

30 pages, 7832 KiB  
Article
Candidate Polyurethanes Based on Castor Oil (Ricinus communis), with Polycaprolactone Diol and Chitosan Additions, for Use in Biomedical Applications
by Yomaira L. Uscátegui, Luis E. Díaz, José A. Gómez-Tejedor, Ana Vallés-Lluch, Guillermo Vilariño-Feltrer, María A. Serrano and Manuel F. Valero
Molecules 2019, 24(2), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24020237 - 10 Jan 2019
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5705
Abstract
Polyurethanes are widely used in the development of medical devices due to their biocompatibility, degradability, non-toxicity and chemical versatility. Polyurethanes were obtained from polyols derived from castor oil, and isophorone diisocyanate, with the incorporation of polycaprolactone-diol (15% w/w) and chitosan [...] Read more.
Polyurethanes are widely used in the development of medical devices due to their biocompatibility, degradability, non-toxicity and chemical versatility. Polyurethanes were obtained from polyols derived from castor oil, and isophorone diisocyanate, with the incorporation of polycaprolactone-diol (15% w/w) and chitosan (3% w/w). The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the type of polyol and the incorporation of polycaprolactone-diol and chitosan on the mechanical and biological properties of the polyurethanes to identify the optimal ones for applications such as wound dressings or tissue engineering. Polyurethanes were characterized by stress-strain, contact angle by sessile drop method, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, water uptake and in vitro degradation by enzymatic processes. In vitro biological properties were evaluated by a 24 h cytotoxicity test using the colorimetric assay MTT and the LIVE/DEAD kit with cell line L-929 (mouse embryonic fibroblasts). In vitro evaluation of the possible inflammatory effect of polyurethane-based materials was evaluated by means of the expression of anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory cytokines expressed in a cellular model such as THP-1 cells by means of the MILLIPLEX® MAP kit. The modification of polyols derived from castor oil increases the mechanical properties of interest for a wide range of applications. The polyurethanes evaluated did not generate a cytotoxic effect on the evaluated cell line. The assessed polyurethanes are suggested as possible candidate biomaterials for wound dressings due to their improved mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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11 pages, 2271 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Carbohydrate-Grafted Glycopolymers Using a Catalyst-Free, Perfluoroarylazide-Mediated Fast Staudinger Reaction
by William Ndugire, Bin Wu and Mingdi Yan
Molecules 2019, 24(1), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24010157 - 03 Jan 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4156
Abstract
Glycopolymers have gained increasing importance in investigating glycan-lectin interactions, as drug delivery vehicles and in modulating interactions with proteins. The synthesis of these glycopolymers is still a challenging and rigorous exercise. In this regard, the highly efficient click reaction, copper (I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition, [...] Read more.
Glycopolymers have gained increasing importance in investigating glycan-lectin interactions, as drug delivery vehicles and in modulating interactions with proteins. The synthesis of these glycopolymers is still a challenging and rigorous exercise. In this regard, the highly efficient click reaction, copper (I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition, has been widely applied not only for its efficiency but also for its tolerance of the appended carbohydrate groups. However, a significant drawback of this method is the use of the heavy metal catalyst which is difficult to remove completely, and ultimately toxic to biological systems. In this work, we present the synthesis of carbohydrate-grafted glycopolymers utilizing a mild and catalyst-free perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA)-mediated Staudinger reaction. Using this strategy, mannose (Man) and maltoheptaose (MH) were grafted onto the biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by stirring a PFAA-functionalized PLA with a phosphine-derivatized Man or MH in DMSO at room temperature within an hour. The glycopolymers were characterized by 1H-NMR, 19F-NMR, 31P-NMR and FTIR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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17 pages, 5805 KiB  
Article
Purification and Glutaraldehyde Activation Study on HCl-Doped PVA–PANI Copolymers with Different Aniline Concentrations
by Jorge M. Guerrero, Amanda Carrillo, María L. Mota, Roberto C. Ambrosio and Francisco S. Aguirre
Molecules 2019, 24(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24010063 - 25 Dec 2018
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4779
Abstract
In this work, we report the synthesis and purification of polyvinyl alcohol-polyaniline (PVA–PANI) copolymers at different aniline concentrations, and their molecular (1H-NMR and FTIR), thermal (TGA/DTG/DSC), optical (UV–Vis-NIR), and microstructural (XRD and SEM) properties before and after activation with glutaraldehyde (GA) [...] Read more.
In this work, we report the synthesis and purification of polyvinyl alcohol-polyaniline (PVA–PANI) copolymers at different aniline concentrations, and their molecular (1H-NMR and FTIR), thermal (TGA/DTG/DSC), optical (UV–Vis-NIR), and microstructural (XRD and SEM) properties before and after activation with glutaraldehyde (GA) in order to obtain an active membrane. The PVA–PANI copolymers were synthesized by chemical oxidation of aniline using ammonium persulfate (APS) in an acidified (HCl) polyvinyl alcohol matrix. The obtained copolymers were purified by dialysis and the precipitation–redispersion method in order to eliminate undesired products and compare changes due to purification. PVA–PANI products were analyzed as gels, colloidal dispersions, and thin films. 1H-NMR confirmed the molecular structure of PVA–PANI as the proposed skeletal formula, and FTIR of the obtained purified gels showed the characteristic functional groups of PVA gels with PANI nanoparticles. After exposing the material to a GA solution, the presence of the FTIR absorption bands at 1595 cm−1, 1650 cm−1, and 1717 cm−1 confirmed the activation of the material. FTIR and UV–Vis-NIR characterization showed an increase of the benzenoid section of PANI with GA exposure, which can be interpreted as a reduction of the polymer with the time of activation and concentration of the solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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Graphical abstract

10 pages, 2812 KiB  
Article
VE-Albumin Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Paclitaxel Delivery to Treat MDR Breast Cancer
by Bo Tang, Yu Qian, Yi Gou, Gang Cheng and Guihua Fang
Molecules 2018, 23(11), 2760; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23112760 - 25 Oct 2018
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4369
Abstract
Multi-drug resistance (MDR) presents a serious problem in cancer chemotherapy. In this study, Vitamin E (VE)-Albumin core-shell nanoparticles were developed for paclitaxel (PTX) delivery to improve the chemotherapy efficacy in an MDR breast cancer model. The PTX-loaded VE-Albumin core-shell nanoparticles (PTX-VE NPs) had [...] Read more.
Multi-drug resistance (MDR) presents a serious problem in cancer chemotherapy. In this study, Vitamin E (VE)-Albumin core-shell nanoparticles were developed for paclitaxel (PTX) delivery to improve the chemotherapy efficacy in an MDR breast cancer model. The PTX-loaded VE-Albumin core-shell nanoparticles (PTX-VE NPs) had small particle sizes (about 100 nm), high drug entrapment efficiency (95.7%) and loading capacity (12.5%), and showed sustained release profiles, in vitro. Docking studies indicated that the hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonds play a significant role in the formation of the PTX-VE NPs. The results of confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis demonstrated that the cell uptake of PTX was significantly increased by the PTX-VE NPs, compared with the NPs without VE (PTX NPs). The PTX-VE NPs also exhibited stronger cytotoxicity, compared with PTX NPs with an increased accumulation of PTX in the MCF-7/ADR cells. Importantly, the PTX-VE NPs showed a higher anti-cancer efficacy in MCF-7/ADR tumor xenograft model than the PTX NPs and the PTX solutions. Overall, the VE-Albumin core-shell nanoparticles could be a promising nanocarrier for PTX delivery to improve the chemotherapeutic efficacy of MDR cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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12 pages, 2811 KiB  
Article
Immobilizing Polyether Imidazole Ionic Liquids on ZSM-5 Zeolite for the Catalytic Synthesis of Propylene Carbonate from Carbon Dioxide
by Liying Guo, Xianchao Jin, Xin Wang, Longzhu Yin, Yirong Wang and Ying-Wei Yang
Molecules 2018, 23(10), 2710; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23102710 - 21 Oct 2018
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5093
Abstract
Traditional ionic liquids (ILs) catalysts suffer from the difficulty of product purification and can only be used in homogeneous catalytic systems. In this work, by reacting ILs with co-catalyst (ZnBr2), we successfully converted three polyether imidazole ionic liquids (PIILs), i.e., HO-[Poly-epichlorohydrin-methimidazole]Cl [...] Read more.
Traditional ionic liquids (ILs) catalysts suffer from the difficulty of product purification and can only be used in homogeneous catalytic systems. In this work, by reacting ILs with co-catalyst (ZnBr2), we successfully converted three polyether imidazole ionic liquids (PIILs), i.e., HO-[Poly-epichlorohydrin-methimidazole]Cl (HO-[PECH-MIM]Cl), HOOC-[Poly-epichlorohydrin-methimidazole]Cl (HOOC-[PECH-MIM]Cl), and H2N-[Poly-epichlorohydrin-methimidazole]Cl (H2N-[PECH-MIM]Cl), to three composite PIIL materials, which were further immobilized on ZSM-5 zeolite by chemical bonding to result in three immobilized catalysts, namely ZSM-5-HO-[PECH-MIM]Cl/[ZnBr2], ZSM-5-HOOC-[PECH-MIM]Cl/[ZnBr2], and ZSM-5-H2N-[PECH-MIM]Cl/[ZnBr2]. Their structures, thermal stabilities, and morphologies were fully characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The amount of composite PIIL immobilized on ZSM-5 was determined by elemental analysis. Catalytic performance of the immobilized catalysts was evaluated through the catalytic synthesis of propylene carbonate (PC) from CO2 and propylene oxide (PO). Influences of reaction temperature, time, and pressure on catalytic performance were investigated through the orthogonal test, and the effect of catalyst circulation was also studied. Under an optimal reaction condition (130 °C, 2.5 MPa, 0.75 h), the composite catalyst, ZSM-5-HOOC- [PECH-MIM]Cl/[ZnBr2], exhibited the best catalytic activity with a conversion rate of 98.3% and selectivity of 97.4%. Significantly, the immobilized catalyst could still maintain high heterogeneous catalytic activity even after being reused for eight cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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9 pages, 1911 KiB  
Article
Ultrasensitive (Co)polymers Based on Poly(methacrylamide) Structure with Fining-Tunable pH Responsive Value
by Haiming Fan, Po Li, Wei Li, Hui Li and Xiaonan Huang
Molecules 2018, 23(8), 1870; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23081870 - 27 Jul 2018
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3849
Abstract
Novel pH responsive copolymers with tertiary amine groups were prepared by free radical polymerization with 2-(dialkylamino)ethyl methacrylate monomers. These polymers were pH sensitive with the ability to be responsively fine-tuned in aqueous solution, which was proven through titration, transmittance measurements, and proton nuclear [...] Read more.
Novel pH responsive copolymers with tertiary amine groups were prepared by free radical polymerization with 2-(dialkylamino)ethyl methacrylate monomers. These polymers were pH sensitive with the ability to be responsively fine-tuned in aqueous solution, which was proven through titration, transmittance measurements, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The polymers were soluble in water at low pH values, induced by electrostatic repulsion between amine groups, and aggregated above their pKa value due to the hydrophobic effect of the alkyls. The pH responsive values were precisely tuned from 7.4 to 4.8 by increasing the hydrophobic monomer ratio. Our work provides a novel approach for the development of ultrasensitive pH-responsive polymers for application in biomedical materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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Graphical abstract

11 pages, 1997 KiB  
Article
Effect of Hydrophobic Polypeptide Length on Performances of Thermo-Sensitive Hydrogels
by Jiandong Han, Xingyu Zhao, Weiguo Xu, Wei Wang, Yuping Han and Xiangru Feng
Molecules 2018, 23(5), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23051017 - 26 Apr 2018
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3878
Abstract
Thermosensitive gels are commonly used as drug carriers in medical fields, mainly due to their convenient processing and easy functionalization. However, their overall performance has been severely affected by their unsatisfying biocompatibility and biodegradability. To this end, we synthesized poly(l-alanine) (PLAla)-based [...] Read more.
Thermosensitive gels are commonly used as drug carriers in medical fields, mainly due to their convenient processing and easy functionalization. However, their overall performance has been severely affected by their unsatisfying biocompatibility and biodegradability. To this end, we synthesized poly(l-alanine) (PLAla)-based thermosensitive hydrogels with different degrees of polymerization by ring-opening polymerization. The obtained mPEG45−PLAla copolymers showed distinct transition temperatures and degradation abilities. It was found that slight changes in the length of hydrophobic side groups had a decisive effect on the gelation behavior of the polypeptide hydrogel. Longer hydrophobic ends led to a lower gelation temperature of gel at the same concentration, which implied better gelation capability. The hydrogels showed rapid gelling, enhanced biocompatibility, and better degradability. Therefore, this thermosensitive hydrogel is a promising material for biomedical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

21 pages, 7009 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Phenylboronic Acid-Based Gels with Potential for Self-Regulated Drug Delivery
by Chenyu Wang, Bozhong Lin, Haopeng Zhu, Fei Bi, Shanshan Xiao, Liyan Wang, Guangqing Gai and Li Zhao
Molecules 2019, 24(6), 1089; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24061089 - 19 Mar 2019
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5684
Abstract
Glucose-sensitive drug platforms are highly attractive in the field of self-regulated drug delivery. Drug carriers based on boronic acid (BA), especially phenylboronic acid (PBA), have been designed for glucose-sensitive self-regulated insulin delivery. The PBA-functionalized gels have attracted more interest in recent years. The [...] Read more.
Glucose-sensitive drug platforms are highly attractive in the field of self-regulated drug delivery. Drug carriers based on boronic acid (BA), especially phenylboronic acid (PBA), have been designed for glucose-sensitive self-regulated insulin delivery. The PBA-functionalized gels have attracted more interest in recent years. The cross-linked three-dimensional (3D) structure endows the glucose-sensitive gels with great physicochemical properties. The PBA-based platforms with cross-linked structures have found promising applications in self-regulated drug delivery systems. This article summarizes some recent attempts at the developments of PBA-mediated glucose-sensitive gels for self-regulated drug delivery. The PBA-based glucose-sensitive gels, including hydrogels, microgels, and nanogels, are expected to significantly promote the development of smart self-regulated drug delivery systems for diabetes therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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Graphical abstract

32 pages, 2082 KiB  
Review
Polymeric Co-Delivery Systems in Cancer Treatment: An Overview on Component Drugs’ Dosage Ratio Effect
by Jiayi Pan, Kobra Rostamizadeh, Nina Filipczak and Vladimir P. Torchilin
Molecules 2019, 24(6), 1035; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24061035 - 15 Mar 2019
Cited by 67 | Viewed by 6190
Abstract
Multiple factors are involved in the development of cancers and their effects on survival rate. Many are related to chemo-resistance of tumor cells. Thus, treatment with a single therapeutic agent is often inadequate for successful cancer therapy. Ideally, combination therapy inhibits tumor growth [...] Read more.
Multiple factors are involved in the development of cancers and their effects on survival rate. Many are related to chemo-resistance of tumor cells. Thus, treatment with a single therapeutic agent is often inadequate for successful cancer therapy. Ideally, combination therapy inhibits tumor growth through multiple pathways by enhancing the performance of each individual therapy, often resulting in a synergistic effect. Polymeric nanoparticles prepared from block co-polymers have been a popular platform for co-delivery of combinations of drugs associated with the multiple functional compartments within such nanoparticles. Various polymeric nanoparticles have been applied to achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy in cancer therapy. However, reported drug ratios used in such systems often vary widely. Thus, the same combination of drugs may result in very different therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we investigated polymeric co-delivery systems used in cancer treatment and the drug combinations used in these systems for synergistic anti-cancer effect. Development of polymeric co-delivery systems for a maximized therapeutic effect requires a deeper understanding of the optimal ratio among therapeutic agents and the natural heterogenicity of tumors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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18 pages, 2477 KiB  
Review
Hydrogels and Their Applications in Targeted Drug Delivery
by Radhika Narayanaswamy and Vladimir P. Torchilin
Molecules 2019, 24(3), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24030603 - 08 Feb 2019
Cited by 435 | Viewed by 20751
Abstract
Conventional drug delivery approaches are plagued by issues pertaining to systemic toxicity and repeated dosing. Hydrogels offer convenient drug delivery vehicles to ensure these disadvantages are minimized and the therapeutic benefits from the drug are optimized. With exquisitely tunable physical properties that confer [...] Read more.
Conventional drug delivery approaches are plagued by issues pertaining to systemic toxicity and repeated dosing. Hydrogels offer convenient drug delivery vehicles to ensure these disadvantages are minimized and the therapeutic benefits from the drug are optimized. With exquisitely tunable physical properties that confer them great controlled drug release features and the merits they offer for labile drug protection from degradation, hydrogels emerge as very efficient drug delivery systems. The versatility and diversity of the hydrogels extend their applications beyond targeted drug delivery also to wound dressings, contact lenses and tissue engineering to name but a few. They are 90% water, and highly porous to accommodate drugs for delivery and facilitate controlled release. Herein we discuss hydrogels and how they could be manipulated for targeted drug delivery applications. Suitable examples from the literature are provided that support the recent advancements of hydrogels in targeted drug delivery in diverse disease areas and how they could be suitably modified in very different ways for achieving significant impact in targeted drug delivery. With their enormous amenability to modification, hydrogels serve as promising delivery vehicles of therapeutic molecules in several disease conditions, including cancer and diabetes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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24 pages, 6520 KiB  
Review
Recent Development of pH-Responsive Polymers for Cancer Nanomedicine
by Houliang Tang, Weilong Zhao, Jinming Yu, Yang Li and Chao Zhao
Molecules 2019, 24(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24010004 - 20 Dec 2018
Cited by 147 | Viewed by 10803
Abstract
Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide with more than 10 million new cases every year. Tumor-targeted nanomedicines have shown substantial improvements of the therapeutic index of anticancer agents, addressing the deficiencies of conventional chemotherapy, and have had a tremendous growth over [...] Read more.
Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide with more than 10 million new cases every year. Tumor-targeted nanomedicines have shown substantial improvements of the therapeutic index of anticancer agents, addressing the deficiencies of conventional chemotherapy, and have had a tremendous growth over past several decades. Due to the pathophysiological characteristics that almost all tumor tissues have lower pH in comparison to normal healthy tissues, among various tumor-targeted nanomaterials, pH-responsive polymeric materials have been one of the most prevalent approaches for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we summarized the types of pH-responsive polymers, describing their chemical structures and pH-response mechanisms; we illustrated the structure-property relationships of pH-responsive polymers and introduced the approaches to regulating their pH-responsive behaviors; we also highlighted the most representative applications of pH-responsive polymers in cancer imaging and therapy. This review article aims to provide general guidelines for the rational design of more effective pH-responsive nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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16 pages, 5920 KiB  
Review
A Perspective on Reversibility in Controlled Polymerization Systems: Recent Progress and New Opportunities
by Houliang Tang, Yi Luan, Lu Yang and Hao Sun
Molecules 2018, 23(11), 2870; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23112870 - 03 Nov 2018
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5174
Abstract
The field of controlled polymerization is growing and evolving at unprecedented rates, facilitating polymer scientists to engineer the structure and property of polymer materials for a variety of applications. However, the lack of degradability, particularly in vinyl polymers, is a general concern not [...] Read more.
The field of controlled polymerization is growing and evolving at unprecedented rates, facilitating polymer scientists to engineer the structure and property of polymer materials for a variety of applications. However, the lack of degradability, particularly in vinyl polymers, is a general concern not only for environmental sustainability, but also for biomedical applications. In recent years, there has been a significant effort to develop reversible polymerization approaches in those well-established controlled polymerization systems. Reversible polymerization typically involves two steps, including (i) forward polymerization, which converts small monomers into macromolecule; and (ii) depolymerization, which is capable of regenerating original monomers. Furthermore, recycled monomers can be repolymerized into new polymers. In this perspective, we highlight recent developments of reversible polymerization in those controlled polymerization systems and offer insight into the promise and utility of reversible polymerization systems. More importantly, the current challenges and future directions to solve those problems are discussed. We hope this perspective can serve as an “initiator” to promote continuing innovations in this fairly new area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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24 pages, 11121 KiB  
Review
Smart and Functional Conducting Polymers: Application to Electrorheological Fluids
by Qi Lu, Wen Jiao Han and Hyoung Jin Choi
Molecules 2018, 23(11), 2854; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23112854 - 02 Nov 2018
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5944
Abstract
Electro-responsive smart electrorheological (ER) fluids consist of electrically polarizing organic or inorganic particles and insulating oils in general. In this study, we focus on various conducting polymers of polyaniline and its derivatives and copolymers, along with polypyrrole and poly(ionic liquid), which are adopted [...] Read more.
Electro-responsive smart electrorheological (ER) fluids consist of electrically polarizing organic or inorganic particles and insulating oils in general. In this study, we focus on various conducting polymers of polyaniline and its derivatives and copolymers, along with polypyrrole and poly(ionic liquid), which are adopted as smart and functional materials in ER fluids. Their ER characteristics, including viscoelastic behaviors of shear stress, yield stress, and dynamic moduli, and dielectric properties are expounded and appraised using polarizability measurement, flow curve testing, inductance-capacitance-resistance meter testing, and several rheological equations of state. Furthermore, their potential industrial applications are also covered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart and Functional Polymers)
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