Advances in Biopolymers for Biotechnological and Biomedical Applications

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 (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 3496

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
R. Agladze Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 11 Mindeli St., 0186 Tbilisi, Georgia
Interests: polymer; biomacromolecules; nanocomposites; nanochemistry; metal nanoparticles; magnetic resonance; EPR; material characterization; biomagnetics; magnetic properties

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Nanoparticles, V. V. Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
Interests: hybrid inorganic–organic nanobiocomposites with a set of specified physicochemical and biological properties; theranostics; chemistry of natural compounds; chemistry of organoelement compounds
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biopolymers are a wide variety of natural and synthetically modified polymers, including associated macromolecular systems. With the recent growing demand in the world, the question of developing a substance for use in biomedicine and biotechnologies for a new generation with increased efficiency is constantly being raised. Undoubtedly, the safest and most environmentally friendly approach is using various multifunctional biopolymer materials. Such macromolecules already have biologically active properties or contain reducing and stabilizing fragments that can be used to obtain novel functionalized materials. At the same time, modern biomedicine and biotechnological advances face such tasks as the design of biocompatible, non-toxic, and quickly biodegradable substances; the use of biopolymers as objects is more than justified.

Various biopolymers are employed as gelling and binding agents, components for tissue engineering, carriers for target therapy, and can form stable composite materials. This Special Issue aims to highlight some of the cutting-edge research from various areas and to publish information about the latest advances in the scientific community.

Dr. Spartak Khutsishvili
Dr. Boris Sukhov
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

  • hybrid biomaterials
  • polymer composites
  • synthetic biopolymers
  • natural macromolecules
  • diagnostics and therapy
  • drug delivery
  • tissue engineering

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 6029 KiB  
Article
Copper-Containing Bionanocomposites Based on Natural Raw Arabinogalactan as Effective Vegetation Stimulators and Agents against Phytopathogens
by Spartak S. Khutsishvili, Alla I. Perfileva, Tatyana V. Kon’kova, Natalya A. Lobanova, Evgeniy K. Sadykov and Boris G. Sukhov
Polymers 2024, 16(5), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16050716 - 06 Mar 2024
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Abstract
Novel copper-containing bionanocomposites based on the natural raw arabinogalactan have been obtained as universal effective agents against phytopathogen Clavibacter sepedonicus and development stimulants of agricultural plants. Thus, the use of such nanosystems offers a solution to the tasks set in biotechnology while maintaining [...] Read more.
Novel copper-containing bionanocomposites based on the natural raw arabinogalactan have been obtained as universal effective agents against phytopathogen Clavibacter sepedonicus and development stimulants of agricultural plants. Thus, the use of such nanosystems offers a solution to the tasks set in biotechnology while maintaining high environmental standards using non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable natural biopolymers. The physicochemical characteristics of nanocomposites were determined using a number of analytical methods (elemental analysis, transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopic parameters of electron paramagnetic resonance, UV–visible, etc.). The results of the study under the influence of the nanocomposites on the germination of soybean seeds (Glycine max L.) and the vegetation of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) showed the best results in terms of biometric indicators. It is especially worth noting the pronounced influence of the nanocomposite on the development of the root system, and the increase in the mass of the potato root system reached 19%. It is also worth noting that the nanocomposites showed a stimulating effect on the antioxidant system and did not have a negative effect on the content of pigments in potato tissues. Moreover, the resulting bionanocomposite showed a pronounced antibacterial effect against the phytopathogenic bacterium. During the co-incubation of phytopathogen Clavibacter sepedonicus in the presence of the nanocomposite, the number of cells in the bacterial suspension decreased by up to 40% compared to that in the control, and a 10% decrease in the dehydrogenase activity of cells was also detected. Full article
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16 pages, 3001 KiB  
Article
Plasma-Treated Electrospun PLGA Nanofiber Scaffold Supports Limbal Stem Cells
by Hanan Jafar, Khalid Ahmed, Rama Rayyan, Shorouq Sotari, Rula Buqain, Dema Ali, Muawyah Al Bdour and Abdalla Awidi
Polymers 2023, 15(21), 4244; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15214244 - 27 Oct 2023
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Abstract
The corneal epithelial layer is continuously replaced by limbal stem cells. Reconstructing this layer in vitro using synthetic scaffolds is highly needed. Poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) is approved for human use due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, PLGA is hydrophobic, preventing cell adherence [...] Read more.
The corneal epithelial layer is continuously replaced by limbal stem cells. Reconstructing this layer in vitro using synthetic scaffolds is highly needed. Poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) is approved for human use due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, PLGA is hydrophobic, preventing cell adherence to PLGA membranes. PLGA scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning on a custom-made target drum spinning at a rate of 1000 rpm with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/h and voltage at 20 kV, then treated with oxygen plasma at 30 mA using a vacuum coater. Scaffolds were characterized by SEM, mechanically by tensile testing, and thermally by DSC and TGA. In vitro degradation was measured by weight loss and pH drop. Wettability was assessed through water uptake and contact angles measurements. Human limbal stem cells (hLSCs) were isolated and seeded on the scaffolds. Cell attachment and cytotoxicity assay were evaluated on day 1 and 5 after cell seeding. SEM showed regular fiber morphology with diameters ranging between 150 nm and 950 nm. Tensile strength demonstrated similar average stress values for both plasma- and non-plasma-treated samples. Scaffolds also showed gradual degradability over a period of 7–8 weeks. Water contact angle and water absorption were significantly enhanced for plasma-treated scaffolds, indicating a favorable increase in their hydrophilicity. Scaffolds have also supported hLSCs growth and attachment with no signs of cytotoxicity. We have characterized a nanofiber electrospun plasma-treated PLGA scaffold to investigate the mechanical and biological properties and the ability to support the attachment and maintenance of hLSCs. Full article
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35 pages, 20432 KiB  
Article
Leucine-Based Pseudo-Proteins (LPPs) as Promising Biomaterials: A Study of Cell-Supporting Properties
by Mariam Ksovreli, Tinatin Kachlishvili, Tevdore Mtiulishvili, Giorgi Dzmanashvili, Tatuli Batsatsashvili, Knarita Zurabiani, David Tughushi, Temur Kantaria, Lili Nadaraia, Levan Rusishvili, Olivier Piot, Christine Terryn, Pavel Tchelidze, Ramaz Katsarava and Nina Kulikova
Polymers 2023, 15(15), 3328; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15153328 - 07 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1132
Abstract
Scaffold-based systems have become essential in biomedical research, providing the possibility of building in vitro models that can better mimic tissue/organic physiology. A relatively new family of biomimetics—pseudo-proteins (PPs)—can therefore be considered especially promising in this context. Three different artificial leucine-based LPP films [...] Read more.
Scaffold-based systems have become essential in biomedical research, providing the possibility of building in vitro models that can better mimic tissue/organic physiology. A relatively new family of biomimetics—pseudo-proteins (PPs)—can therefore be considered especially promising in this context. Three different artificial leucine-based LPP films were tested in vitro as potential scaffolding materials. In vitro experiments were performed using two types of cells: primary mouse skin fibroblasts and a murine monocyte/macrophages cell line, RAW264.7. Cell adhesion and cell spreading were evaluated according to morphological parameters via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and they were assessed according to actin cytoskeleton distribution, which was studied via confocal laser microscopy. Cell proliferation was evaluated via an MTT assay. Cell migration was studied using time-lapse microscopy. SEM images for both types of cells demonstrated prominent adhesion and perfect cell spreading on all three LPPs. Analyses of actin cytoskeleton organization revealed a high number of focal adhesions and prominent motility-associated structures. A certain stimulation of cell proliferation was detected in the cases of all three LPPs, and two of them promoted macrophage migration. Overall, our data suggest that the LPPs used in the study can be considered potential cell-friendly scaffolding materials. Full article
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