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Polymers
Special Issues
Biobased Polymers: Design, Synthesis and Applications
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Biobased Polymers: Design, Synthesis and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 January 2023) | Viewed by 14155

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carlos Mota

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Guest Editor
Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration (CTR), Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine (MERLN), Maastricht University, 6211 LK Maastricht, The Netherlands
Interests: biofabrication; bioprinting and additive manufacturing techniques for the development of tissue engineered constructs
Prof. Dr. Artur Mateus

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polytechnic of Leiria, Center for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development, Marinha Grande, 2430-028 Marinha Grande, Portugal
Interests: reaction injection moulding; rapid manufacturing; injection moulding; composites and additive manufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Juliana Rosa Dias

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polytechnic of Leiria, Center for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development, Marinha Grande, 2430-028 Marinha Grande, Portugal
Interests: tissue engineering; electrospinning; skin regeneration; nanofibers; biomaterials; polymers; bioresponsive structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tatiana Marisa Fernandes Patrício

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polytechnic of Leiria, Center for Rapid and Sustainable Product Development, Marinha Grande, 2430-028 Marinha Grande, Portugal
Interests: biomimetics; synthesis and characterisation of biomaterials; magnetic biomaterials; stimuli-responsive materials; handling of mouse and human cells; tissue engineering; biomedical devices for bone tissue regeneration; additive biomanufacturing; IDI projects; Industry 4.0
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on Biobased Polymers: Design, Synthesis and Applications is dedicated to the dissemination of high-quality original research articles or comprehensive reviews of cutting-edge developments in this interdisciplinary field. A large number of polymers are used in our daily routine; however, novel strategies must be found for reusing polymers and to use natural sources to create more sustainable polymers with effective properties. In medical science, novel approaches are needed to present alternatives for materials used in disposable devices. Moreover, novel strategies for using biobased polymers combined with biomimicry can be highly used in tissue regeneration. In this Special Issue, we will highlight the advances in biobased polymers to be applied in biomedical applications, with potential topics including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Design of biobased polymers;
  • Synthesis of biobased polymers;
  • Biomimicry using biobased polymers;
  • Medical disposable devices using biobased polymers;
  • Additive manufacturing of biobased polymers;
  • Biobased polymers for tissue regeneration;
  • Innovative strategies to develop 2D and 3D biobased polymers structures for regenerative medicine.

Dr. Carlos Mota
Prof. Dr. Artur Mateus
Dr. Juliana Rosa Dias
Dr. Tatiana Marisa Fernandes Patrício
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. 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

  • biomimicry
  • biobased polymers
  • medical disposable devices
  • additive manufacturing
  • tissue regeneration
  • scaffolds

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4697 KiB  
Article
Marine Gelatin-Methacryloyl-Based Hydrogels as Cell Templates for Cartilage Tissue Engineering
by Inês Machado, Catarina F. Marques, Eva Martins, Ana L. Alves, Rui L. Reis and Tiago H. Silva
Polymers 2023, 15(7), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15071674 - 28 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2057
Abstract
Marine-origin gelatin has been increasingly used as a safe alternative to bovine and porcine ones due to their structural similarity, avoiding the health-related problems and sociocultural concerns associated with using mammalian-origin materials. Another benefit of marine-origin gelatin is that it can be produced [...] Read more.
Marine-origin gelatin has been increasingly used as a safe alternative to bovine and porcine ones due to their structural similarity, avoiding the health-related problems and sociocultural concerns associated with using mammalian-origin materials. Another benefit of marine-origin gelatin is that it can be produced from fish processing-products enabling high production at low cost. Recent studies have demonstrated the excellent capacity of gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA)-based hydrogels in a wide range of biomedical applications due to their suitable biological properties and tunable physical characteristics, such as tissue engineering applications, including the engineering of cartilage. In this study, fish gelatin was obtained from Greenland halibut skins by an acidic extraction method and further functionalized by methacrylation using methacrylic anhydride, developing a photosensitive gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) with a degree of functionalization of 58%. The produced marine GelMA allowed the fabrication of photo-crosslinked hydrogels by incorporating a photoinitiator and UV light exposure. To improve the biological performance, GelMA was combined with two glycosaminoglycans (GAGs): hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS). GAGs methacrylation reaction was necessary, rendering methacrylated HA (HAMA) and methacrylated CS (CSMA). Three different concentrations of GelMA were combined with CSMA and HAMA at different ratios to produce biomechanically stable hydrogels with tunable physicochemical features. The 20% (w/v) GelMA-based hydrogels produced in this work were tested as a matrix for chondrocyte culture for cartilage tissue engineering with formulations containing both HAMA and CSMA showing improved cell viability. The obtained results suggest these hybrid hydrogels be used as promising biomaterials for cartilage tissue engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Polymers: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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14 pages, 2865 KiB  
Article
Sunflower Oil as a Renewable Resource for Polyurethane Foams: Effects of Flame-Retardants
by Magdalene A. Asare, Prashant Kote, Sahilkumar Chaudhary, Felipe M. de Souza and Ram K. Gupta
Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5282; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235282 - 3 Dec 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1975
Abstract
Currently, polyurethane (PU) manufacturers seek green alternatives for sustainable production. In this work, sunflower oil is studied as a replacement and converted to a reactive form through epoxidation and oxirane opening to produce rigid PU foams. Confirmatory tests such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy [...] Read more.
Currently, polyurethane (PU) manufacturers seek green alternatives for sustainable production. In this work, sunflower oil is studied as a replacement and converted to a reactive form through epoxidation and oxirane opening to produce rigid PU foams. Confirmatory tests such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and hydroxyl value among others were performed to characterize the synthesized polyol. Despite the versatility of rigid PU foams, they are highly flammable, which makes eco-friendly flame retardants (FRs) desired. Herein, expandable graphite (EG) and dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP), both non-halogenated FR, were incorporated under different concentrations to prepare rigid PU foams. Their effects on the physio-mechanical and fire-quenching properties of the sunflower oil-based PU foams were elucidated. Thermogravimetric and compression analysis showed that these foams presented appreciable compressive strength along with good thermal stability. The closed-cell contents (CCC) were around 90% for the EG-containing foams and suffered a decrease at higher concentrations of DMMP to 72%. The burning test showed a decrease in the foam’s flammability as the neat foam had a burning time of 80 s whereas after the addition of 13.6 wt.% of EG and DMMP, separately, there was a decrease to 6 and 2 s, respectively. Hence, our research suggested that EG and DMMP could be a more viable alternative to halogen-based FR for PU foams. Additionally, the adoption of sunflower polyol yielded foams with results comparable to commercial ones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Polymers: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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16 pages, 3431 KiB  
Article
Effect of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide on the Properties of Sunflower Oil-Based Polyurethane Films
by Vishwa Suthar, Magdalene A. Asare, Felipe M. de Souza and Ram K. Gupta
Polymers 2022, 14(22), 4974; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14224974 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1842
Abstract
Sunflower oil was used for the synthesis of a polyol via an epoxidation reaction followed by a ring-opening reaction. The successful synthesis of the sunflower oil-based polyol (SFO polyol) was demonstrated through structural characterizations and wet-chemistry analysis. Bio-based polyurethane (BPU) films were fabricated [...] Read more.
Sunflower oil was used for the synthesis of a polyol via an epoxidation reaction followed by a ring-opening reaction. The successful synthesis of the sunflower oil-based polyol (SFO polyol) was demonstrated through structural characterizations and wet-chemistry analysis. Bio-based polyurethane (BPU) films were fabricated using synthesized polyol and diisocyanate. Various amounts of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were added separately to see their effect on the physicomechanical and thermal properties of BPU films. Several tests, such as thermogravimetric analysis, tensile strength, dynamic mechanical analysis, hardness, flexural strength, and the water contact angle, were performed to evaluate the effect of GO and rGO on the properties of the BPU films. Some of the analyses of the BPU films demonstrated an improvement in the mechanical properties, for example, the tensile strength increased from 22.5 to 26 MPa with the addition of only 0.05 wt.% GO. The storage modulus improved from 900 to 1000 and 1700 MPa after the addition of 0.02 and 0.05 wt.% GO, respectively. This study shows that a small amount of GO and rGO could improve the properties of BPU films, making them suitable for use in coating industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Polymers: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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18 pages, 3881 KiB  
Article
Advanced Face Mask Filters Based on PCL Electrospun Meshes Dopped with Antimicrobial MgO and CuO Nanoparticles
by Carolina A. M. Ferreira, Sara F. C. Guerreiro, Joana F. A. Valente, Tatiana M. F. Patrício, Nuno Alves, Artur Mateus and Juliana R. Dias
Polymers 2022, 14(16), 3329; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14163329 - 16 Aug 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2610
Abstract
The pandemic situation caused by coronavirus clearly demonstrated the need for alternatives able to protect the respiratory tract and inactivate the infectious agents. Based on this, antibacterial face-mask filters of polycaprolactone (PCL) dopped with magnesium oxide (MgO) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) [...] Read more.
The pandemic situation caused by coronavirus clearly demonstrated the need for alternatives able to protect the respiratory tract and inactivate the infectious agents. Based on this, antibacterial face-mask filters of polycaprolactone (PCL) dopped with magnesium oxide (MgO) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) were produced using an electrospinning technique. A morphological analysis of electrospun meshes evaluated the success of nanoparticles’ incorporation as well as the average fibers’ diameters (481 ± 272 nm). The performance of electrospun nanofibers was also assessed in terms of tensile strength (0.88 ± 0.25 MPa), water vapor permeability (11,178.66 ± 35.78 g·m−2·day−1), stability under wet conditions and antibacterial activity according to the standard guidelines. The filters showed structural stability up to 2 h of washing and improved antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) for optimized concentrations of MgO and CuO NPs. Overall, electrospun meshes with antibacterial activity were successfully developed for advanced filtering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Polymers: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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Review

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25 pages, 367 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress in Proteins-Based Micelles as Drug Delivery Carriers
by Aleena Mustafai, Muhammad Zubair, Ajaz Hussain and Aman Ullah
Polymers 2023, 15(4), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15040836 - 8 Feb 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3341
Abstract
Proteins-derived polymeric micelles have gained attention and revolutionized the biomedical field. Proteins are considered a favorable choice for developing micelles because of their biocompatibility, harmlessness, greater blood circulation and solubilization of poorly soluble drugs. They exhibit great potential in drug delivery systems as [...] Read more.
Proteins-derived polymeric micelles have gained attention and revolutionized the biomedical field. Proteins are considered a favorable choice for developing micelles because of their biocompatibility, harmlessness, greater blood circulation and solubilization of poorly soluble drugs. They exhibit great potential in drug delivery systems as capable of controlled loading, distribution and function of loaded agents to the targeted sites within the body. Protein micelles successfully cross biological barriers and can be incorporated into various formulation designs employed in biomedical applications. This review emphasizes the recent advances of protein-based polymeric micelles for drug delivery to targeted sites of various diseases. Most studied protein-based micelles such as soy, gelatin, casein and collagen are discussed in detail, and their applications are highlighted. Finally, the future perspectives and forthcoming challenges for protein-based polymeric micelles have been reviewed with anticipated further advances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Polymers: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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22 pages, 2859 KiB  
Review
Electrospun-Based Membranes as a Key Tool to Prevent Respiratory Infections
by Sara F. C. Guerreiro, Carolina A. M. Ferreira, Joana F. A. Valente, Tatiana M. F. Patrício, Nuno M. F. Alves and Juliana R. Dias
Polymers 2022, 14(18), 3787; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14183787 - 10 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1613
Abstract
The use of electrospun meshes has been proposed as highly efficient protective equipment to prevent respiratory infections. Those infections can result from the activity of micro-organisms and other small dust particles, such as those resulting from air pollution, that impair the respiratory tract, [...] Read more.
The use of electrospun meshes has been proposed as highly efficient protective equipment to prevent respiratory infections. Those infections can result from the activity of micro-organisms and other small dust particles, such as those resulting from air pollution, that impair the respiratory tract, induce cellular damage and compromise breathing capacity. Therefore, electrospun meshes can contribute to promoting air-breathing quality and controlling the spread of such epidemic-disrupting agents due to their intrinsic characteristics, namely, low pore size, and high porosity and surface area. In this review, the mechanisms behind the pathogenesis of several stressors of the respiratory system are covered as well as the strategies adopted to inhibit their action. The main goal is to discuss the performance of antimicrobial electrospun nanofibers by comparing the results already reported in the literature. Further, the main aspects of the certification of filtering systems are highlighted, and the expected technology developments in the industry are also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biobased Polymers: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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