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Polymers
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Biopolymer Materials for Applications in Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering
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Biopolymer Materials for Applications in Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering

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 (10 August 2022) | Viewed by 18812

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yi-Chen Ethan Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung 407102, Taiwan
Interests: biomaterials; stem cell; neural tissue engineering; 3D bioprinting; organ-on-a-chip
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of the journal Polymers entitled “Biopolymer Materials for Applications in Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering” aims to bring together papers focused on the applications of polymeric materials and their composites. We aim to cover the entire array of biopolymers, including conventional engineering polymers, natural/synthetic biopolymers, and newly developed polymers. A range of applications, from traditional to advanced, will be covered.

Prof. Yi-Chen Ethan Li
Guest Editor

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

  • Biomedical applications of biopolymeric materials 
  • Biochemical applications of biopolymeric materials 
  • Functional biopolymers and their composites for biosensors and actuators 
  • Biopolymeric membranes 
  • polymer-based nanoparticles 
  • Injectable biopolymer materials 
  • Tissue engineering of biopolymeric materials 
  • Regenerative medical application of biopolymeric materials 
  • 3D/4D printing of biopolymeric materials and their composites

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 3850 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Sterilization on the Characteristics of Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles
by María Alejandra Asensio Ruiz, Marta G. Fuster, Teresa Martínez Martínez, Mercedes G. Montalbán, José Luis Cenis, Gloria Víllora and Antonio Abel Lozano-Pérez
Polymers 2022, 14(3), 498; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14030498 - 26 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3137
Abstract
In recent years, silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) have been consolidated as drug delivery systems (DDSs) with multiple applications in personalized medicine. The design of a simple, inexpensive, and scalable preparation method is an objective pursued by many research groups. When the objective is [...] Read more.
In recent years, silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) have been consolidated as drug delivery systems (DDSs) with multiple applications in personalized medicine. The design of a simple, inexpensive, and scalable preparation method is an objective pursued by many research groups. When the objective is to produce nanoparticles suitable for biomedical uses, their sterility is essential. To achieve sufficient control of all the crucial stages in the process and knowledge of their implications for the final characteristics of the nanoparticles, the present work focused on the final stage of sterilization. In this work, the sterilization of SFNs was studied by comparing the effect of different available treatments on the characteristics of the nanoparticles. Two different sterilization methods, gamma irradiation and autoclaving, were tested, and optimal conditions were identified to achieve the sterilization of SFNs by gamma irradiation. The minimum irradiation dose to achieve sterilization of the nanoparticle suspension without changes in the nanoparticle size, polydispersity, or Z-potential was determined to be 5 kiloGrays (kGy). These simple and safe methods were successfully implemented for the sterilization of SFNs in aqueous suspension and facilitate the application of these nanoparticles in medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer Materials for Applications in Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering)
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13 pages, 3284 KiB  
Article
Effect of Graphene Addition on Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Fabricated Using Melt-Electrowriting
by Johnson H. Y. Chung, Sepidar Sayyar and Gordon G. Wallace
Polymers 2022, 14(2), 319; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14020319 - 13 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2371
Abstract
Melt-electrowriting (MEW) is an emerging method that combines electrospinning and extrusion printing, allowing the fabrication of micron-scale structures suitable for tissue engineering. Compared to other additive fabrication methods, melt-electro written structures can offer more appropriate substrates for cell culture due to filament size [...] Read more.
Melt-electrowriting (MEW) is an emerging method that combines electrospinning and extrusion printing, allowing the fabrication of micron-scale structures suitable for tissue engineering. Compared to other additive fabrication methods, melt-electro written structures can offer more appropriate substrates for cell culture due to filament size and mechanical characteristics of the fabricated scaffolds. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL)/graphene composites were investigated for fabrication of micron-size scaffolds through MEW. It was demonstrated that the addition of graphene can considerably improve the processability of PCL to fabricate micron-scale scaffolds with enhanced resolution. The tensile strength of the scaffold prepared from PCL/graphene composite (with only 0.5 wt.% graphene) was proved significantly (by more than 270%), better than that of the pristine PCL scaffold. Furthermore, graphene was demonstrated to be a suitable material for tailoring the degradation process to avoid undesirable bulk degradation, rapid mass loss and damage to the internal matrix of the polymer. The findings of this study offer a promising route for the fabrication of high-resolution scaffolds with micron-scale resolution for tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer Materials for Applications in Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering)
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15 pages, 8279 KiB  
Article
An Injectable Hybrid Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA)/Phenyl Isothiocyanate-Modified Gelatin (Gel-Phe) Bioadhesive for Oral/Dental Hemostasis Applications
by Wan-Chun Chang, Au-Zou Tai, Nian-Yun Tsai and Yi-Chen Ethan Li
Polymers 2021, 13(14), 2386; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13142386 - 20 Jul 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4371
Abstract
Biomaterials are widely used for effectively controlling bleeding in oral/dental surgical procedures. Here, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) was synthesized by grafting methacrylic anhydride on gelatin backbone, and phenyl isothiocyanate-modified gelatin (Gel-Phe) was synthesized by conjugating different gelatin/phenyl isothiocyanate molar ratios (G/P ratios) (i.e., 1:1, [...] Read more.
Biomaterials are widely used for effectively controlling bleeding in oral/dental surgical procedures. Here, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) was synthesized by grafting methacrylic anhydride on gelatin backbone, and phenyl isothiocyanate-modified gelatin (Gel-Phe) was synthesized by conjugating different gelatin/phenyl isothiocyanate molar ratios (G/P ratios) (i.e., 1:1, 1:5, 1:10, 1:15, 1:25, 1:50, 1:100, and 1:150) with gelatin polymer chains. Afterward, we combined GelMA and Gel-Phe as an injectable and photo-crosslinkable bioadhesive. This hybrid material system combines photo-crosslinking chemistry and supramolecular interactions for the design of bioadhesives exhibiting a highly porous structure, injectability, and regulable mechanical properties. By simply regulating the G/P ratio (1:1–1:15) and UV exposure times (15–60 s), it was possible to modulate the injectability and mechanical properties of the GelMA/Gel-Phe bioadhesive. Moreover, we demonstrated that the GelMA/Gel-Phe bioadhesive showed low cytotoxicity, a highly porous network, and the phenyl-isothiourea and amine residues on Gel-Phe and GelMA polymers with synergized hemostatic properties towards fast blood absorption and rapid clotting effect. An in vitro porcine skin bleeding and an in vitro dental bleeding model confirmed that the bioadhesive could be directly extruded into the bleeding site, rapidly photo-crosslinked, and reduced blood clotting time by 45%. Moreover, the in situ crosslinked bioadhesive could be easily removed from the bleeding site after clotting, avoiding secondary wound injury. Overall, this injectable GelMA/Gel-Phe bioadhesive stands as a promising hemostatic material in oral/dental surgical procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer Materials for Applications in Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering)
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11 pages, 3644 KiB  
Article
Feasibility Assessment of Parathyroid Hormone Adsorption by Using Polysaccharide-Based Multilayer Film Systems
by Ruey-Shin Juang, Xing Su and I-Chi Lee
Polymers 2021, 13(13), 2070; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13132070 - 24 Jun 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2047
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a systemic disorder that combines complex bone and mineral abnormalities. The high level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the blood causes irreversible renal dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce level of PTH in the [...] Read more.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a systemic disorder that combines complex bone and mineral abnormalities. The high level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the blood causes irreversible renal dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce level of PTH in the blood of patients with uremic state. In this study, chitosan and heparin were chosen to form polysaccharide-based multilayer films based on their antibacterial ability, good biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. In addition, a previous study has revealed that PTH is a heparin/polyanion binding protein because of the similarity of heparin to the cell surface proteoglycans. Subsequently, the surface properties including thickness, surface hydrophobicity and surface charge of a series of multilayer films were analyzed. The PTH adsorption rate of a series of multilayer films was also assessed. The results revealed that the optimizing condition is (CHI/HEP)2.5 and 60 min in both PBS only and PBS with the addition of bovine serum albumin, which demonstrated the specific adsorption of PTH on the materials. Furthermore, the hemolysis test also revealed that (CHI/HEP)2.5 shows good blood compatibility. It is considered that polysaccharide-based multilayer films may provide an alternative for the surface modification of hemodialysis membranes and equipment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer Materials for Applications in Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering)
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15 pages, 4737 KiB  
Article
Enhancement of Nano-Biopolymer Antibacterial Activity by Pulsed Electric Fields
by Mai. I. El-Kaliuoby, Motaz Amer and Nader Shehata
Polymers 2021, 13(11), 1869; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13111869 - 04 Jun 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2210
Abstract
Chronic wounds are commonly colonized with bacteria in a way that prevents full healing process and capacity for repair. Nano-chitosan, a biodegradable and nontoxic biopolymer, has shown bacteriostatic activity against a wide spectrum of bacteria. Effectively, pulsed electromagnetic fields are shown to have [...] Read more.
Chronic wounds are commonly colonized with bacteria in a way that prevents full healing process and capacity for repair. Nano-chitosan, a biodegradable and nontoxic biopolymer, has shown bacteriostatic activity against a wide spectrum of bacteria. Effectively, pulsed electromagnetic fields are shown to have both wound healing enhancement and antibacterial activity. This work aimed to combine the use of nano-chitosan and exposure to a pulsed electric field to overcome two common types of infectious bacteria, namely P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Here, bacteria growing rate, growth kinetics and cell cytotoxicity (levels of lactate dehydrogenase, protein leakage and nucleic acid leakage) were investigated. Our findings confirmed the maximum antibacterial synergistic combination of nano-chitosan and exposure against P. aeruginosa than using each one alone. It is presumed that the exposure has influenced bacteria membrane charge distribution in a manner that allowed more chitosan to anchor the surface and enter inside the cell. Significantly, cell cytotoxicity substantiates high enzymatic levels as a result of cell membrane disintegration. In conclusion, exposure to pulsed electromagnetic fields has a synergistic antibacterial effect against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa with maximum inhibitory effect for the last one. Extensive work should be done to evaluate the combination against different bacteria types to get general conclusive results. The ability of using pulsed electromagnetic fields as a wound healing accelerator and antibacterial cofactor has been proved, but in vivo experimental work in the future to verify the use of such a new combination against infectious wounds and to determine optimum treatment conditions is a must. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer Materials for Applications in Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering)
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14 pages, 7074 KiB  
Article
Calcium Silicate-Activated Gelatin Methacrylate Hydrogel for Accelerating Human Dermal Fibroblast Proliferation and Differentiation
by Fong-Sian Lin, Jian-Jr Lee, Alvin Kai-Xing Lee, Chia-Che Ho, Yen-Ting Liu and Ming-You Shie
Polymers 2021, 13(1), 70; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13010070 - 27 Dec 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3443
Abstract
Wound healing is a complex process that requires specific interactions between multiple cells such as fibroblasts, mesenchymal, endothelial, and neural stem cells. Recent studies have shown that calcium silicate (CS)-based biomaterials can enhance the secretion of growth factors from fibroblasts, which further increased [...] Read more.
Wound healing is a complex process that requires specific interactions between multiple cells such as fibroblasts, mesenchymal, endothelial, and neural stem cells. Recent studies have shown that calcium silicate (CS)-based biomaterials can enhance the secretion of growth factors from fibroblasts, which further increased wound healing and skin regeneration. In addition, gelatin methacrylate (GelMa) is a compatible biomaterial that is commonly used in tissue engineering. However, it has low mechanical properties, thus restricting its fullest potential for clinical applications. In this study, we infused Si ions into GelMa hydrogel and assessed for its feasibility for skin regeneration applications by observing for its influences on human dermal fibroblasts (hDF). Initial studies showed that Si could be successfully incorporated into GelMa, and printability was not affected. The degradability of Si-GelMa was approximately 20% slower than GelMa hydrogels, thus allowing for better wound healing and regeneration. Furthermore, Si-GelMa enhanced cellular adhesion and proliferation, therefore leading to the increased secretion of collagen I other important extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling-related proteins including Ki67, MMP9, and decorin. This study showed that the Si-GelMa hydrogels were able to enhance the activity of hDF due to the gradual release of Si ions, thus making it a potential candidate for future skin regeneration clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymer Materials for Applications in Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering)
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