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Polymers
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Biodegradable Polymer Composites Application in Drug Delivery
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Biodegradable Polymer Composites Application in Drug Delivery

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2023) | Viewed by 9303

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lianhua Fu

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Guest Editor
Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
Interests: composite materials; biomaterials; drug delivery; cancer treatment; synergistic therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Junfeng Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Water Conservancy and Architecture Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
Interests: composite materials; environmental science; water treatment
Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Younis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Interests: inorganic nanocarriers; drug delivery; cancer imaging and therapy; immunomodulation
Dr. Changzhou Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Interests: composite materials; lignocellulose; hydrogels; biomedical applications
Dr. Xiaohong Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulose Chemistry and Biomaterials, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
Interests: polymer composites; organic synthesis; lignin products

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As a promising drug carrier, polymers have been extensively developed and applied in biomedical fields. However, the poor stability and biotoxicity severely limit their clinical applications. Since the material composition and structure determine its properties, these limitations can be effectively overwhelmed by integrating with other materials to form polymer composites. With the advancement of polymer science, more and more polymer composites have been developed and widely applied in the field of drug delivery. Compared with the single-component polymer drug carrier, polymer composite-based carriers with adjustable composition and structure, high stability, and excellent biosafety, are more promising for drug delivery applications.

This Special Issue is devoted to the advanced biodegradable polymer composite carriers for drug delivery applications. Both promising original scientific investigations and exhaustive reviews concerning this field are welcome. The scope is not restricted to polymer composites for drug delivery; contributions on similar topics are also welcome.

Dr. Lianhua Fu
Prof. Dr. Junfeng Li
Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Younis
Dr. Changzhou Chen
Dr. Xiaohong Chen
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

  • drug delivery system
  • controlled release
  • composite materials
  • biodegradable materials
  • biomedical applications
  • cancer treatment

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4498 KiB  
Article
Effects of Surface Morphology and Type of Cross-Linking of Chitosan-Pectin Microspheres on Their Degree of Swelling and Favipiravir Release Behavior
by Amer Rashid Hameed, Hatem Majdoub and Fawzi Habeeb Jabrail
Polymers 2023, 15(15), 3173; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15153173 - 26 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 965
Abstract
The cross-linked microspheres were prepared and loaded with Favipiravir SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug, by copolymerization of chitosan (CS) with a polysaccharide extracted from fresh pomegranate peels. Moreover, glutaraldehyde (Glu) has been used as a chemical cross-linker and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) as a physical cross-linker. [...] Read more.
The cross-linked microspheres were prepared and loaded with Favipiravir SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug, by copolymerization of chitosan (CS) with a polysaccharide extracted from fresh pomegranate peels. Moreover, glutaraldehyde (Glu) has been used as a chemical cross-linker and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) as a physical cross-linker. The extracted polysaccharide was analyzed, and different techniques have been used. The analyses lead to the conclusion that it is pectin. The surface morphology of the prepared microspheres was studied using a scanning electron microscope, where the size and shape factor (S) of the Glu microspheres showed high values (74.27 μm) and (0.852), respectively, meaning their surfaces tend to be rough, whereas the SHMP microspheres showed a smaller size particle (20.47 μm) and a smaller shape factor (0.748), which gives an indication that the SHMP microspheres have smooth surfaces. The swelling studies have shown that Glu microspheres have a higher degree of swelling, which means SHMP microspheres are more compact. The prepared microspheres have shown a higher loading percentage of Favipiravir antiviral drug in SHMP microspheres (37% w/w) in comparison with Glu microspheres (35% w/w), where the electrostatic interaction between the Favipiravir ions and SHMP anions helps for more loading. The microspheres prepared under different types of cross-linking have shown initial burst release of Favipiravir, followed by a step of controlled release for a certain period of time, whose period depends on the pH of the release medium. Both Glu and SHMP cross-linked microspheres have shown high controlled release times in buffered release solutions at pH = 7.4 and for shorter periods at pH = 1.3 and pH = 9.4, which may be related to the type of electrostatic interactions between drug and polymer systems and their reactions with release solution ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymer Composites Application in Drug Delivery)
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11 pages, 1627 KiB  
Article
Lignin Extracted from Various Parts of Castor (Ricinus communis L.) Plant: Structural Characterization and Catalytic Depolymerization
by Yihan Wang, Shihao Su and Guoyong Song
Polymers 2023, 15(12), 2732; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15122732 - 19 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1072
Abstract
Castor is an important non-edible oilseed crop used in the production of high-quality bio-oil. In this process, the leftover tissues rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are regarded as by-products and remain underutilized. Lignin is a crucial recalcitrance component, and its composition and [...] Read more.
Castor is an important non-edible oilseed crop used in the production of high-quality bio-oil. In this process, the leftover tissues rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are regarded as by-products and remain underutilized. Lignin is a crucial recalcitrance component, and its composition and structure strongly limit the high-value utilization of raw materials, but there is a lack of detailed studies relating to castor lignin chemistry. In this study, lignins were isolated from various parts of the castor plant, namely, stalk, root, leaf, petiole, seed endocarp and epicarp, using the dilute HCl/dioxane method, and the structural features of the as-obtained six lignins were investigated. The analyses indicated that endocarp lignin contained catechyl (C), guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units, with a predominance of C unit [C/(G+S) = 6.9:1], in which the coexisted C-lignin and G/S-lignin could be disassembled completely. The isolated dioxane lignin (DL) from endocarp had a high abundance of benzodioxane linkages (85%) and a low level of β-β linkages (15%). The other lignins were enriched in G and S units with moderate amounts of β-O-4 and β-β linkages, being significantly different from endocarp lignin. Moreover, only p-coumarate (pCA) incorporated into the epicarp lignin was observed, with higher relative content, being rarely reported in previous studies. The catalytic depolymerization of isolated DL generated 1.4–35.6 wt% of aromatic monomers, among which DL from endocarp and epicarp have high yields and excellent selectivity. This work highlights the differences in lignins from various parts of the castor plant, providing a solid theory for the high-value utilization of the whole castor plant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymer Composites Application in Drug Delivery)
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15 pages, 5068 KiB  
Article
A pH-Sensitive Lignin-Based Material for Sustained Release of 8-Hydroxyquinoline
by Qian Zheng, Lanfang Chai, Boyu Du, Wei Li, Lian-Hua Fu and Xiaohong Chen
Polymers 2023, 15(8), 1867; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15081867 - 13 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1248
Abstract
The fabrication of pH-sensitive lignin-based materials has received considerable attention in various fields, such as biomass refining, pharmaceuticals, and detecting techniques. However, the pH-sensitive mechanism of these materials is usually depending on the hydroxyl or carboxyl content in the lignin structure, which hinders [...] Read more.
The fabrication of pH-sensitive lignin-based materials has received considerable attention in various fields, such as biomass refining, pharmaceuticals, and detecting techniques. However, the pH-sensitive mechanism of these materials is usually depending on the hydroxyl or carboxyl content in the lignin structure, which hinders the further development of these smart materials. Here, a pH-sensitive lignin-based polymer with a novel pH-sensitive mechanism was constructed by establishing ester bonds between lignin and the active molecular 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ). The structure of the produced pH-sensitive lignin-based polymer was comprehensively characterized. The substituted degree of 8HQ was tested up to 46.6% sensitivity, and the sustained release performance of 8HQ was confirmed by the dialysis method, the sensitivity of which was found to be 60 times slower compared with the physical mixed sample. Moreover, the obtained pH-sensitive lignin-based polymer showed an excellent pH sensitivity, and the released amount of 8HQ under an alkaline condition (pH = 8) was obviously higher than that under an acidic condition (pH = 3 and 5). This work provides a new paradigm for the high-value utilization of lignin and a theory guidance for the fabrication of novel pH-sensitive lignin-based polymers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymer Composites Application in Drug Delivery)
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13 pages, 1652 KiB  
Article
The Controlled Release and Prevention of Abdominal Adhesion of Tannic Acid and Mitomycin C-Loaded Thermosensitive Gel
by Youping Li, Gaixia Liu, Mengting Wang, Yuling Zhang, Shiwan You, Jing Zhang, Gang Guo, Bo Han, Le Li and Na Zhao
Polymers 2023, 15(4), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15040975 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1699
Abstract
Postoperative abdominal adhesion is one of the most common complications after abdominal surgery. A single drug or physical barrier treatment does not achieve the ideal anti-adhesion effect. We developed a thermosensitive hydrogel (PPH hydrogel) consisting of poloxamer 407 (P407), poloxamer (P188), and hydroxypropyl [...] Read more.
Postoperative abdominal adhesion is one of the most common complications after abdominal surgery. A single drug or physical barrier treatment does not achieve the ideal anti-adhesion effect. We developed a thermosensitive hydrogel (PPH hydrogel) consisting of poloxamer 407 (P407), poloxamer (P188), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) co-blended. An injectable thermosensitive TA/MMC-PPH hydrogel was obtained by loading tannic acid (TA) with an anti-inflammatory effect and mitomycin C (MMC), which inhibits fibroblast migration or proliferation. The optimal prescriptions of PPH hydrogels with a suitable gelling time (63 s) at 37 °C was 20% (w/v) P407, 18% (w/v) P188, and 0.5% (w/v) HPMC. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the PPH hydrogel had a three-dimensional mesh structure, which was favorable for drug encapsulation. The PPH hydrogel had a suitable gelation temperature of 33 °C, a high gel strength, and complicated viscosity at 37 °C, according to the rheological analysis. In vitro release studies have shown that the PPH hydrogel could delay the release of TA and MMC and conform to the first-order release rate. Anti-adhesion tests performed on rats in vivo revealed that TA/MMC-PPH hydrogel significantly reduced the risk of postoperative adhesion. In conclusion, the TA/MMC-PPH hydrogel prepared in this study showed an excellent performance in both controlled drug release and anti-adhesive effects. It can be used as a protocol to prevent or reduce postoperative abdominal adhesion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymer Composites Application in Drug Delivery)
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17 pages, 3324 KiB  
Article
Baicalin-Loaded Lipid–Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles Inhibiting the Proliferation of Human Colon Cancer: Pharmacokinetics and In Vivo Evaluation
by Yassine Riadi, Obaid Afzal, Mohammed H. Geesi, Waleed H. Almalki and Tanuja Singh
Polymers 2023, 15(3), 598; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030598 - 24 Jan 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1892
Abstract
This research work is focused on pharmacokinetic and biochemical experiments to assess baicalin-loaded lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) with colon-targeting specificity. The nanoprecipitation method was used to develop the LPHNPs, and the characterized formulation revealed the 184.3 nm particle size, PDI of 0.177, spherical [...] Read more.
This research work is focused on pharmacokinetic and biochemical experiments to assess baicalin-loaded lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) with colon-targeting specificity. The nanoprecipitation method was used to develop the LPHNPs, and the characterized formulation revealed the 184.3 nm particle size, PDI of 0.177, spherical shape, and zeta potential of −19.8 mV. The baicalin LPHNPs are said to be poorly absorbed in the stomach and small intestine, and in vitro drug release tests have shown that the drug is released mostly in the caecal fluid. Additionally, the LPHNPs showed stability and nonsignificant drug loss at 25 °C for 3 months. The least viable population of baicalin-loaded LPHNPs was detected at a lower IC50 value after 48 h, and no cytotoxicity was observed by blank suspension and blank LPHNPs up to the concentration of 100 µg/mL. Apart from this, the pharmacokinetics study showed that baicalin from LPHNPs is much less absorbed and least available in the blood plasma and maximum available in the colon. Concurrently, organ distribution studies demonstrated that baicalin-loaded LPHNPs were distributed more widely in the colon compared to baicalin suspension. Moreover, baicalin-loaded LPHNPs were found to be superior to a baicalin suspension in reducing elevated liver enzyme levels. In a nutshell, baicalin-loaded LPHNPs show superior efficacy and can be maximally localized into the colon rectal cancer along with systemic availability of the drug. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymer Composites Application in Drug Delivery)
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13 pages, 5222 KiB  
Article
Design and Evaluation of Complex Polypeptide-Loaded Dissolving Microneedles for Improving Facial Wrinkles in Different Areas
by Mengzhen Xing, Han Liu, Fanda Meng, Yuning Ma, Suohui Zhang and Yunhua Gao
Polymers 2022, 14(21), 4475; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14214475 - 22 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1660
Abstract
Wrinkles are one of the most intuitive manifestations of skin aging. Complex polypeptide-loaded dissolving microneedles (CP-DMNs) for facial wrinkles in different areas have been developed and evaluated for the first time. In optimizing formulations, we compared the differences in CP-DMNs heights on skin [...] Read more.
Wrinkles are one of the most intuitive manifestations of skin aging. Complex polypeptide-loaded dissolving microneedles (CP-DMNs) for facial wrinkles in different areas have been developed and evaluated for the first time. In optimizing formulations, we compared the differences in CP-DMNs heights on skin insertion depth and skin repair and healing. Furthermore, systemic safety experiments were carried out to provide a reference for clinical application. On this basis, an 84-day efficacy assessment based on the improvement of facial wrinkles in different areas and a comparison between CP-DMNs vs. placebo was performed on 30 healthy subjects. As a result, DMNs with a height of 300 μm presented sufficient strength to pierce the stratum corneum with minimized skin damage. In addition, CP-DMNs possessed excellent biological safety and skin compatibility for clinical application. Compared with placebo, CP-DMNs exhibited obvious improvements in wrinkles distributed in the corners of eyes, under-eyes, and nasolabial folds. Furthermore, after using CP-DMNs for 84 days, facial wrinkles in five different areas were smoothed. In short, the complex polypeptides showed apparent anti-wrinkle efficacy with the aid of DMNs technology, and CP-DMNs seemed to work better on deeper wrinkles, such as frown lines and nasolabial folds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodegradable Polymer Composites Application in Drug Delivery)
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