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Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Medical Applications II

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 4490

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yadong Tang

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Guest Editor

School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
Interests: biomaterials; biofabrication; microfluidics; organs-on-a-chip; electrospinning; 3D printing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Lu Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
Interests: controlled drug release; thermogel materials; stimuli-responsive polymeric materials; multi-functional polymeric materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Further to the success of the Special Issue of Polymers “Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Medical Applications”, we are delighted to reopen the Special Issue, which is now entitled “Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Medical Applications II”.

Polymers are widely used as biomaterials and have motivated development in biomedical fields because of their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Biocompatible and degradable polymers are favoured in developing therapeutic devices, including temporary implants and three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering, as well as pharmacological applications, such as delivery vehicles for controlled/sustained drug release. A wide range of natural and synthetic degradable polymers has been investigated for biomedical applications, with novel materials constantly being developed to meet new challenges. Meanwhile, the development of biotechnology and medical technology has set higher requirements for biomedical materials.

In this Special Issue, we encourage authors to share their experiences in the field that is broadly understood as “Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Medical Applications II”. We believe that your studies will contribute to the potential use of these polymers in the biomedical field.

Dr. Yadong Tang
Dr. Lu Jiang
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

biodegradable polymers
biomaterials
natural polymeric biomaterials
synthetic polymeric biomaterials
tissue engineering
drug delivery

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 20502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cryostructuring of Polymeric Systems: 67 Properties and Microstructure of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Cryogels Formed in the Presence of Phenol or Bis-Phenols Introduced into the Aqueous Polymeric Solutions Prior to Their Freeze–Thaw Processing

by Olga Yu. Kolosova, Viktor G. Vasil’ev, Ivan A. Novikov, Elena V. Sorokina and Vladimir I. Lozinsky

Polymers 2024, 16(5), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16050675 - 1 Mar 2024

Viewed by 973

Abstract

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) physical cryogels that contained the additives of o-, m-, and p-bis-phenols or phenol were prepared, and their physico-chemical characteristics and macroporous morphology and the solute release dynamics were evaluated. These phenolic additives caused changes in the viscosity of initial PVA solutions before their freeze–thaw processing and facilitated the growth in the rigidity of the resultant cryogels, while their heat endurance decreased. The magnitude of the effects depended on the interposition of phenolic hydroxyls in the molecules of the used additives and was stipulated by their H-bonding with PVA OH-groups. Subsequent rinsing of such “primary” cryogels with pure water led to the lowering of their rigidity. The average size of macropores inside these heterophase gels also depended on the additive type. It was found also that the release of phenolic substances from the additive-containing cryogels occurred via virtually a free diffusion mechanism; therefore, drug delivery systems such as PVA cryogels loaded with either pyrocatechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone, or phenol, upon the in vitro agar diffusion tests, exhibited antibacterial activity typical of these phenols. The promising biomedical potential of the studied nanocomposite gel materials is supposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Medical Applications II)

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15 pages, 3989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Ethylene Oxide and Gamma Irradiation Sterilization Processes on the Properties of Poly-L-Lactic-Acid (PLLA) Materials

by Natalie Krug, Jan-Christoph Zarges and Hans-Peter Heim

Polymers 2023, 15(16), 3461; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15163461 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1553

Abstract

In order to encourage the substitution of petrochemical polymers in medical technology with sustainable, bio-based materials, there is an urgent need for further investigations, especially data regarding their sterility performance. Within the scope of the investigations, selected material properties of poly-L-lactic-acid (PLLA), a specific type of poly(lactic-acid) (PLA), were analyzed before and after sterilization (using ethylene oxide or gamma irradiation) in order to investigate deviations in its chemical structure, wettability, optical, and mechanical properties. In particular, parameters such as molecular weight, complex viscosity, tensile strength, water contact angle, and color were discussed. Sterilization temperatures close to the glass transition of PLA, high humidity, and interactions with the ethylene oxide molecules have resulted in an increase in crystallinity, a decrease in elongation at break, and in some cases, a variation in wettability. As a consequence of exposure to high-energy radiation, the material’s toughness is reduced due to chain scission, which is manifested through a decrease in molecular weight, an increase in crystallinity, and a partial change in surface energy. For the selected PLLA-materials (Luminy^® L130, NP HT 202, and NP HT 203), ethylene oxide sterilization resulted in a comparatively minor variation in the characteristics behavior, and was chosen as the preferred method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Medical Applications II)

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Review

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13 pages, 726 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Comparative Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) vs. Standard Materials Used in Orthodontic Fixed Appliances: A Systematic Review

by Pyi Phyo Win, Oak Gar Moe, Daniel De-Shing Chen, Tzu-Yu Peng and Johnson Hsin-Chung Cheng

Polymers 2024, 16(9), 1271; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16091271 - 2 May 2024

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Abstract

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), an organic thermoplastic polymer, has gained interest in dentistry due to its excellent mechanical strength, flexibility, and biocompatibility. Furthermore, the ability to utilize CAD/CAM in the fabrication of PEEK enhances accuracy, reliability, and efficiency while also saving time. Hence, several orthodontic studies have explored the utilization of PEEK in various applications, such as archwires, brackets, fixed lingual retainers, palatal expansion devices, transpalatal arches, Tübingen palatal plates, different types of space maintainers, mini-implant insertion guides, and more. However, a complete systematic review of the available data comparing the performance of PEEK with traditional orthodontic materials has not yet been conducted. Therefore, this systematic review seeks to assess if PEEK material meets the required mechanical criteria to serve as an alternative to conventional orthodontic appliances. To ensure clarity and precision, this review will specifically concentrate on fixed appliances. This systemic review followed the PRISMA guidelines and utilized databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Springer, Web of Science, and Wiley. Searches were restricted to English language articles from January 2013 to February 2024. Keywords such as “Polyetheretherketone” or “PEEK” and “Orthodontic” or “Orthodontic device” or “Orthodontic materials” were employed across all databases. Nine studies were incorporated, covering orthodontic archwires, brackets, and fixed lingual retainers. Based on the reviewed literature, PEEK demonstrates promising potential in orthodontic fixed appliances, offering advantages in force delivery, friction reduction, and aesthetic appeal. Further research is needed to fully explore its capabilities and optimize its application in clinical practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Medical Applications II)

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20 pages, 2341 KiB

Open AccessReview

Surface Modification of Nano-Hydroxyapatite/Polymer Composite for Bone Tissue Repair Applications: A Review

by Shuo Tang, Yifei Shen, Liuyun Jiang and Yan Zhang

Polymers 2024, 16(9), 1263; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16091263 - 1 May 2024

Viewed by 312

Abstract

Nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) is the main inorganic component of natural bone, which has been widely used as a reinforcing filler for polymers in bone materials, and it can promote cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. It can also produce interactions between cells and material surfaces through selective protein adsorption and has therefore always been a research hotspot in orthopedic materials. However, n-HA nano-particles are inherently easy to agglomerate and difficult to disperse evenly in the polymer. In addition, there are differences in trace elements between n-HA nano-particles and biological apatite, so the biological activity needs to be improved, and the slow degradation in vivo, which has seriously hindered the application of n-HA in bone fields, is unacceptable. Therefore, the modification of n-HA has been extensively reported in the literature. This article reviewed the physical modification and various chemical modification methods of n-HA in recent years, as well as their modification effects. In particular, various chemical modification methods and their modification effects were reviewed in detail. Finally, a summary and suggestions for the modification of n-HA were proposed, which would provide significant reference for achieving high-performance n-HA in biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Medical Applications II)

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36 pages, 9601 KiB

Open AccessReview

Pharmaceutical Applications of Biomass Polymers: Review of Current Research and Perspectives

by Cornelia Bejenaru, Antonia Radu, Adina-Elena Segneanu, Andrei Biţă, Maria Viorica Ciocîlteu, George Dan Mogoşanu, Ionela Amalia Bradu, Titus Vlase, Gabriela Vlase and Ludovic Everard Bejenaru

Polymers 2024, 16(9), 1182; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16091182 - 23 Apr 2024

Viewed by 310

Abstract

Polymers derived from natural biomass have emerged as a valuable resource in the field of biomedicine due to their versatility. Polysaccharides, peptides, proteins, and lignin have demonstrated promising results in various applications, including drug delivery design. However, several challenges need to be addressed to realize the full potential of these polymers. The current paper provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research and perspectives in this area, with a particular focus on developing effective methods and efficient drug delivery systems. This review aims to offer insights into the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of natural polymers in biomedicine and to provide a roadmap for future research in this field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers for Medical Applications II)

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