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Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 37578

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Magdalena Aflori

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Guest Editor

Department of Physics of Polymers and Polymeric Materials, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41 A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Interests: surface modification of polymers; DC and RF plasma; biomaterials; polymer composites; chemical and morphological characterization of polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapidly growing field of biomedical engineering has been driven by advances in materials preparation and characterization techniques for target applications. The similarities between natural tissues, proteins, and polymers (either synthetic or natural) with their long-chain architecture lead to the reasonable conclusion that polymers are better representations of natural tissue response compared with metals and ceramics, for example. For these reasons, polymers have attracted a lot of interest, even if their industrial application is prevented by their poor mechanical, thermal and barrier properties. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of innovative and advanced biomaterials based on natural or synthetic polymers with natural and synthetic additives, both inorganic and organic, in order to provide improved performance, in terms of cell adhesion, mechanical reinforcement, and antioxidant and antimicrobial features and to elicit specific biological responses, or to regenerate tissue or organs.

The present Special Issue on “Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterisation and applications” welcome contributions in form of full article, short communication, or review article in topics related to the design, synthesis, characterization, surface modification and processing of multifunctional polymeric and composite biomaterials for use in different biomedical applications, including but not limited to medical implants and devices, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensors. This Special Issue represents a good opportunity for chemists, biologists, physicists, pharmacologists, and physicians to put together different aspects of their research that aims to control complex and tunable chemical, mechanical and biological functions in vitro and in vivo.

Dr. Magdalena Aflori
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Materials 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 2600 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

Biopolymers
Biomimetic polymers
Scaffolds
Porous polymers
Composite materials
Hydrogels
Extracellular matrices
Surface modification
Tissue engineering
Micropatterns
Regenerative medicine
Cell adhesion
Cell proliferation
Cell–material interaction
Biocompatibility
Biodegradation
Antimicrobial

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 4038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrically Conductive Micropatterned Polyaniline-Poly(ethylene glycol) Composite Hydrogel

by Soyoung Noh, Hye Yeon Gong, Hyun Jong Lee and Won-Gun Koh

Materials 2021, 14(2), 308; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14020308 - 8 Jan 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2821

Abstract

Hydrogel substrate-based micropatterns can be adjusted using the pattern shape and size, affecting cell behaviors such as proliferation and differentiation under various cellular environment parameters. An electrically conductive hydrogel pattern system mimics the native muscle tissue environment. In this study, we incorporated polyaniline (PANi) in a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel matrix through UV-induced photolithography with photomasks, and electrically conductive hydrogel micropatterns were generated within a few seconds. The electrical conductance of the PANi/PEG hydrogel was 30.5 ± 0.5 mS/cm. C2C12 myoblasts were cultured on the resulting substrate, and the cells adhered selectively to the PANi/PEG hydrogel regions. Myogenic differentiation of the C2C12 cells was induced, and the alignment of myotubes was consistent with the arrangement of the line pattern. The expression of myosin heavy chain on the line pattern showed potential as a substrate for myogenic cell functionalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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18 pages, 2192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Properties and Cell Viability of Shrimp Chitosan Films as Affected by Film Casting Solvents. I-Potential Use as Wound Dressing

by Hugo Yves C. Eulálio, Mariana Vieira, Thiago B. Fideles, Helena Tomás, Suédina M. L. Silva, Carlos A. Peniche and Marcus Vinícius L. Fook

Materials 2020, 13(21), 5005; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13215005 - 6 Nov 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2674

Abstract

Chitosan solubility in aqueous organic acids has been widely investigated. However, most of the previous works have been done with plasticized chitosan films and using acetic acid as the film casting solvent. In addition, the properties of these films varied among studies, since they are influenced by different factors such as the chitin source used to produce chitosan, the processing variables involved in the conversion of chitin into chitosan, chitosan properties, types of acids used to dissolve chitosan, types and amounts of plasticizers and the film preparation method. Therefore, this work aimed to prepare chitosan films by the solvent casting method, using chitosan derived from Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp shell waste, and five different organic acids (acetic, lactic, maleic, tartaric, and citric acids) without plasticizer, in order to evaluate the effect of organic acid type and chitosan source on physicochemical properties, degradation and cytotoxicity of these chitosan films. The goal was to select the best suited casting solvent to develop wound dressing from shrimp chitosan films. Shrimp chitosan films were analyzed in terms of their qualitative assessment, thickness, water vapor permeability (WVP), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), wettability, tensile properties, degradation in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and cytotoxicity towards human fibroblasts using the resazurin reduction method. Regardless of the acid type employed in film preparation, all films were transparent and slightly yellowish, presented homogeneous surfaces, and the thickness was compatible with the epidermis thickness. However, only the ones prepared with maleic acid presented adequate characteristics of WVP, WVTR, wettability, degradability, cytotoxicity and good tensile properties for future application as a wound dressing material. The findings of this study contributed not only to select the best suited casting solvent to develop chitosan films for wound dressing but also to normalize a solubilization protocol for chitosan, derived from Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp shell waste, which can be used in the pharmaceutical industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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23 pages, 7947 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Analysis of Sediments Formed on the Surface of Hydrophilic Intraocular Lens after Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty

by Dorota Tarnawska, Katarzyna Balin, Maria Jastrzębska, Agnieszka Talik and Roman Wrzalik

Materials 2020, 13(18), 4145; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13184145 - 17 Sep 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2600

Abstract

An intraocular lens (IOL) is a synthetic, artificial lens placed inside the eye that replaces a natural lens that is surgically removed, usually as part of cataract surgery. The opacification of the artificial lens can be related to the formation of the sediments on its surface and could seriously impair vision. The physicochemical analysis was performed on an explanted hydrophilic IOL and compared to the unused one, considered as a reference IOL. The studies were carried out using surface sensitive techniques, which can contribute to a better understanding of the sedimentation process on hydrophilic IOLs’ surfaces. The microscopic studies allowed us to determine the morphology of sediments observed on explanted IOL. The photoelectron spectroscopy measurements revealed the presence of organic and inorganic compounds at the lens surface. Mass spectroscopy measurements confirmed the chemical composition of deposits and allowed for chemical imaging of the IOL surface. Applied techniques allowed to obtain a new set of information approximating the origin of the sediments’ formation on the surface of the hydrophilic IOLs after Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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19 pages, 13156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Collagen Based Composites for Biomedical Applications

by Mioara Drobota, Luiza Madalina Gradinaru, Stelian Vlad, Alexandra Bargan, Maria Butnaru, Marian Angheloiu and Magdalena Aflori

Materials 2020, 13(18), 3961; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13183961 - 7 Sep 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2581

Abstract

Electrospinning is a widely used technology for obtaining nanofibers from synthetic and natural polymers. In this study, electrospun mats from collagen (C), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a blend of the two (C-PET) were prepared and stabilized through a cross-linking process. The aim of this research was to prepare and characterize the nanofiber structure by Fourier-transform infrared with attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) in close correlation with dynamic vapor sorption (DVS). The studies indicated that C-PET nanofibrous mats shows improved mechanical properties compared to collagen samples. A correlation between morphological, structural and cytotoxic proprieties of the studied samples were emphasized and the results suggest that the prepared nanofiber mats could be a promising candidate for tissue-engineering applications, especially dermal applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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18 pages, 4761 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selective Partial Hydrolysis of 2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline Copolymers towards Decreasing the Ability to Crystallize

by Natalia Oleszko-Torbus, Barbara Mendrek, Agnieszka Kowalczuk, Alicja Utrata-Wesołek, Andrzej Dworak and Wojciech Wałach

Materials 2020, 13(15), 3403; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13153403 - 1 Aug 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2352

Abstract

Poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPrOx) is readily prone to crystallization both in solid and from solutions. This feature is detrimental for certain applications. Here, we examine whether the presence of unsubstituted ethyleneimine (EI) units, a gradient distributed within a polymer chain composed of 2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline (iPrOx) and 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (MOx) units, decreases the ability to crystallize the copolymer and affects thermal properties compared to the homopolymer of iPrOx. We assumed that the separation of stiff iPrOx units by the more flexible EI will affect the spatial arrangements of the ordered chains, slightly plasticize and, as a result, decrease their ability to crystallize. The selective hydrolysis of gradient iPrOx and 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (MOx) copolymers, carried out under mild conditions, led to iPrOx/MOx/EI copolymers. To the best of our knowledge, the selective hydrolysis of these copolymers has never been carried out before. Their thermal properties and crystallization abilities, both in a solid state and from an aqueous solution, were analyzed. Based on the analysis of polymer charge and cytotoxicity studies, the potential use of the copolymers obtained was indicated in some biological systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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20 pages, 8056 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Investigations of Chitosan-Based Hydrogels Containing Aloe Vera Designed for Biomedical Use

by Anna Drabczyk, Sonia Kudłacik-Kramarczyk, Magdalena Głąb, Magdalena Kędzierska, Anna Jaromin, Dariusz Mierzwiński and Bożena Tyliszczak

Materials 2020, 13(14), 3073; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13143073 - 9 Jul 2020

Cited by 71 | Viewed by 4221

Abstract

In this work, synthesis and investigations on chitosan-based hydrogels modified with Aloe vera juice are presented. These materials were synthesized by UV radiation. Investigations involved analysis of chemical structure by FTIR spectroscopy, sorption properties in physiological liquids, strength properties by texture analyzer, surface topography by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM technique), and in vitro cytotoxicity by MTT test using L929 murine fibroblasts. Particular attention was focused both on determining the impact of the amount and the molecular weight of the crosslinker used for the synthesis as well as on the introduced additive on the properties of hydrogels. It was proven that modified hydrogels exhibited higher swelling ability. Introduced additive affected the tensile strength of hydrogels—modified materials showed 23% higher elongation. The greater amount of the crosslinker used in the synthesis, the more compact the structure, leading to the lower elasticity and lower sorption of hydrogels was reported. Above 95%, murine fibroblasts remained viable after 24 h incubation with hydrogels. It indicates that tested materials did not exhibit cytotoxicity toward these lines. Additionally, materials with Aloe vera juice were characterized by lower surface roughness. Conducted investigations allowed us to state that such modified hydrogels may be considered as useful for biomedical purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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11 pages, 1491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enzymatically Functionalized Composite Materials Based on Nanocellulose and Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Cryogel and Possessing Antimicrobial Activity

by Aysel Aslanli, Nikolay Stepanov, Tatyana Razheva, Elena A. Podorozhko, Ilya Lyagin, Vladimir I. Lozinsky and Elena Efremenko

Materials 2019, 12(21), 3619; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12213619 - 4 Nov 2019

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3633

Abstract

In the present work, innovative composite biomaterials possessing bactericidal properties and based on the hexahistidine-tagged organophosphorus hydrolase (His₆-OPH) entrapped in the poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel (PVA-CG)/bacterial cellulose (BC) were developed. His₆-OPH possesses lactonase activity, with a number of N-acyl homoserine lactones being the inducers of Gram-negative bacterial resistance. The enzyme can also be combined with various antimicrobial agents (antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides) to improve the efficiency of their action. In this study, such an effect was shown for composite biomaterials when His₆-OPH was entrapped in PVA-CG/BC together with β-lactam antibiotic meropenem or antimicrobial peptides temporin A and indolicidin. The residual catalytic activity of immobilized His₆-OPH was 60% or more in all the composite samples. In addition, the presence of BC filler in the PVA-CG composite resulted in a considerable increase in the mechanical strength and heat endurance of the polymeric carrier compared to the BC-free cryogel matrix. Such enzyme-containing composites could be interesting in the biomedical field to help overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance of pathogenic microorganisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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15 pages, 3086 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Polyimide-Based Electrospun Fibers for Biomedical Application

by Diana Serbezeanu, Tăchiță Vlad-Bubulac, Daniela Rusu, Grațiela Grădișteanu Pircalabioru, Iuliana Samoilă, Sorina Dinescu and Magdalena Aflori

Materials 2019, 12(19), 3201; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12193201 - 29 Sep 2019

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3018

Abstract

The current study focuses on the application of cytotoxicity tests upon one membrane matrix based on electrospun polyimide fibers, appealing for biomedical application, such as scaffolds for cell growth, patches or meshes for wound healing, etc. Assays were performed in order to determine the viability and proliferation of L929 murine fibroblasts after they were kept in direct contact with the studied electrospun polyimide fibers. Increased cell viability and proliferation were detected for cells seeded on electrospun polyimide fibers membrane, in comparison with the control system, either after two or six days of evaluation. The number of live cells was higher on the studied material compared to the control, after two and six days of cell seeding. The tendency of the cells to proliferate on the electrospun polyimide fibers was revealed by confocal microscopy. The morphological stability of electrospun polyimide membrane was evaluated by SEM observation, after immersion of the samples in phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS, 7.4 at 37 °C) at various time intervals. Additionally, the easy production of electrospun polyimide fibers can facilitate the development of these types of matrices into specific biomedical applications in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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13 pages, 2747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seasoning Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Bone Cements with Incorrect Mix Ratio

by Robert Karpiński, Jakub Szabelski and Jacek Maksymiuk

Materials 2019, 12(19), 3073; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12193073 - 20 Sep 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2242

Abstract

Cemented joint prostheses are widely used in orthopaedic surgery; however, implants/bone bonds are known to be susceptible to aseptic loosening, particularly in the case of long-term performance. The exact mechanism of this failure is under constant examination. One of the critical factors to the final mechanical functionality of bone cement can be an incorrect mix ratio of a two-component material (powdered polymer and liquid monomer). It can result in the deterioration of the final mechanical strength properties. The paper presents the results from an experimental study on the effects of the deviation from the correct mix ratio on the moisture uptake and the compression strength of cement depending on the seasoning time in Ringer’s solution. The results were subjected to statistical analysis and a mathematical model was developed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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Review

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17 pages, 848 KiB

Open AccessReview

Why Polyurethanes Have Been Used in the Manufacture and Design of Cardiovascular Devices: A Systematic Review

by Kelly Navas-Gómez and Manuel F. Valero

Materials 2020, 13(15), 3250; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13153250 - 22 Jul 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2647

Abstract

We conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to ascertain why polyurethanes (PUs) have been used in the manufacture and design of cardiovascular devices. A complete database search was performed with PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science as the information sources. The search period ranged from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2019. We recovered 1552 articles in the first stage. After the duplicate selection and extraction procedures, a total of 21 papers were included in the analysis. We concluded that polyurethanes are being applied in medical devices because they have the capability to tolerate contractile forces that originate during the cardiac cycle without undergoing plastic deformation or failure, and the capability to imitate the behaviors of different tissues. Studies have reported that polyurethanes cause severe problems when applied in blood-contacting devices that are implanted for long periods. However, the chemical compositions and surface characteristics of polyurethanes can be modified to improve their mechanical properties, blood compatibility, and endothelial cell adhesion, and to reduce their protein adhesion. These modifications enable the use of polyurethanes in the manufacture and design of cardiovascular devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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27 pages, 7859 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biocompatibility of Polyimides: A Mini-Review

by Catalin P. Constantin, Magdalena Aflori, Radu F. Damian and Radu D. Rusu

Materials 2019, 12(19), 3166; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12193166 - 27 Sep 2019

Cited by 111 | Viewed by 7888

Abstract

Polyimides (PIs) represent a benchmark for high-performance polymers on the basis of a remarkable collection of valuable traits and accessible production pathways and therefore have incited serious attention from the ever-demanding medical field. Their characteristics make them suitable for service in hostile environments and purification or sterilization by robust methods, as requested by most biomedical applications. Even if PIs are generally regarded as “biocompatible”, proper analysis and understanding of their biocompatibility and safe use in biological systems deeply needed. This mini-review is designed to encompass some of the most robust available research on the biocompatibility of various commercial or noncommercial PIs and to comprehend their potential in the biomedical area. Therefore, it considers (i) the newest concepts in the field, (ii) the chemical, (iii) physical, or (iv) manufacturing elements of PIs that could affect the subsequent biocompatibility, and, last but not least, (v) in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility assessment and (vi) reachable clinical trials involving defined polyimide structures. The main conclusion is that various PIs have the capacity to accommodate in vivo conditions in which they are able to function for a long time and can be judiciously certified as biocompatible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Polymeric Biomaterials: Preparation, characterization and applications)

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