Polymer Membranes for Environmental Protection and Biomedical Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Membranes and Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2024) | Viewed by 1132

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biomaterials and Composites, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Interests: polymer materials; biomaterials; composites; polymer chemistry; general organic chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomaterials and Composites, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Interests: porous and nonporous materials supported regenerative process: polymer nanocomposites; fibrous materials; polymer membrane; cells–materials interaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Protection and Engineering, Faculty of Materials, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Bielsko-Biala, 43-300 Bielsko-Biała, Poland
Interests: membranes; polymer materials; biopolymer materials; composites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer membranes are a very dynamically developing research topic. The proper use of the accumulated scientific knowledge and new achievements in the field of polymer membranes allows us to eliminate or significantly reduce the harmful impact of most industrial processes on the natural environment. On the other hand, polymer membranes can be intentionally applied for health protection. Although many scientific articles have been published on this subject, the selective permeation of active or toxic compounds through polymer membranes with a defined porosity is still a great challenge for scientists. Likewise, other problems around using membranes, especially the clogging of membrane pores and the rapid loss of separation efficiency, are still unresolved.

The subject of this Special Issue will be the use of polymer materials to obtain flat, fibrous, capillary or other membranes, as well as their full characterization due to the properties necessary to conduct separation, purification or concentration processes. Studies of basic properties of materials for membranes can be submitted, as can studies on the development of spiral, tubular or capillary modules that can be used in environmental engineering or biomedical engineering. Papers on the technologies for the production of polymer membranes in the context of removing contaminations from the environment are welcome. Papers showing the use of membranes in biomedical engineering (materials with high biocompatibility that can function as space-maker implants, dialysis membranes or other devices can be presented. This Special Issue will also cover the monitoring and solving of problems affected by the physical, chemical and biological deposition of solids on the surface of polymer membranes, as well as by their antifouling abilities.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Polymer-based porous membrane materials;
  • Polymer-based nonporous membrane materials;
  • Polymer-based membranes for biomedical application;
  • Polymer-based membranes for environmental protection;
  • Characterization of polymer membrane materials;
  • Membrane-based techniques for separation and purification of proteins;
  • Biofouling and fouling processes;
  • Monitoring, characterization and cleaning of the membrane fouling process;
  • membrane surface modification

Prof. Dr. Jadwiga Laska
Dr. Ewa Stodolak-Zych
Dr. Beata Fryczkowska
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

  • polymer membranes
  • porous membranes
  • non-porous membranes
  • (bio)fouling
  • membrane separation
  • membrane filtration processes
  • membrane surface modification

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 9046 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Antioxidant Polymer Films with Green Silver Nanoparticles from Symphyti radix
by Aiste Balciunaitiene, Viktorija Januskevice, Sandra Saunoriute, Urte Raubyte, Jonas Viskelis, Patrick B. Memvanga and Pranas Viskelis
Polymers 2024, 16(3), 317; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym16030317 - 24 Jan 2024
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Abstract
Antimicrobial natural polymer film with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using aqueous plant root extracts as reducing capping agents and for film formatting show extensive applicability for pathogenic microorganism problems. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial natural polymer film with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using aqueous plant root extracts as reducing capping agents and for film formatting show extensive applicability for pathogenic microorganism problems. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) techniques. The antimicrobial activity of biofilm with green AgNPs was analysed by inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria culture using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility test. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were slightly higher in aqueous extracts of Sym. Radix than in Sym. Radix/AgNPs. The antimicrobial effect of polymer film/AgNPs against selected test bacteria cultures was substantially more robust than with pure film. Pictures of AgNPs obtained by TEM revealed the presence of spherical-shaped nano-objects with an average size 27.45 nm. SEM–EDS studies confirmed the uniform distribution of metal nanoparticles throughout the biopolymeric matrix. Morphological studies of the surface showed that the obtained surface of the films was even, without holes or other relief irregularities. These apparent Symphyti radix polymer film/AgNPs’ biological functions could provide a platform for fighting pathogenic bacteria in the era of multi-drug resistance. Full article
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