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Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2023) | Viewed by 23463

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Prof. Dr. Cornelia Vasile

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Romanian Academy, “P.Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Physical Chemistry of Polymers Department, 41A Gr. Ghica Voda Alley, RO 700487 Iasi, Romania
Interests: polymeric (bionano)composites; biomaterials; biodegradation; polymer compatibility and biocompatibility; kinetics and thermodynamics of polymeric systems; food packaging, (active, bioactive, smart, (bio)degradable); drugs delivery; recovery of polymer wastes by destructive and non-destructive procedures; environmental pollution and protection; smart polymers
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Dr. Gabriel Aguirre-Álvarez

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Department of Food, Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Av. Universidad Km 1, Rancho Universitario, C.P. 43600 Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico
Interests: extraction methods of natural polymers; tissue engineering; films; enzymatic hydrolysis; antioxidant activity; biodisponibility; regenerative materials; bioactive peptides; skin; scaffolds for skin repair; wound healing; nutraceutical beverages; food supplement; hydration of the skin and anti-inflamatory properties

Dr. Xiao-Feng Sun

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School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710129, China
Interests: natural polymers; polymer composites and nanocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural polymers normally occur in nature and can be obtained from a wide variety of sources including plants, animals, and microorganisms. They are classified mainly into three groups: polysaccharides (cellulose, pectin, dextran, pullulan, starch, chitin, alginate, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, xanthan, and guar gum), peptides (collagen, gelatin, casein and albumin) and polynucleotides (DNA and RNA). Natural polymers are gaining interest among the research community as an attractive ingredient for skin repair and regeneration of the skin, bone tissue engineering, water holding agent, greater cellular attachment and matrix deposition, mechanical stability, drug carriers in anticancer therapy, lack of toxicity, low cost, nanocarriers, antitumor activity, anti-inflammatory, high compatibility with the extra cellular matrix, high biocompatibility, safety, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, film formation, nutraceutical beverages, hydration of the skin, and food supplements.

This Special Issue welcomes submissions of original articles or reviews from an extensive range of expertise in the field of natural polymers with its wide variety of subject matter. The aim is to advance in the understanding of fundamental and technological aspects of extraction of natural products and their applications.

Prof. Dr. Cornelia Vasile
Dr. Gabriel Aguirre-Álvarez
Dr. Xiao-Feng Sun
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

natural polymers
collagen
gelatin
hyaluronic acid
starch
cellulose
pectin
dextran
pullulan
chitin
chitosan
alginate
guar gum
xanthan
casein
albumin

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 5186 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrated Hemicellulose Extraction and Papermaking Fiber Production from Agro-Waste Biomass

by Adrian Cătălin Puițel, Cătălin Dumitrel Balan, Gabriela-Liliana Ailiesei, Elena Niculina Drăgoi and Mircea Teodor Nechita

Polymers 2023, 15(23), 4597; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15234597 - 01 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 854

Abstract

The present study deals with the valorization of corn stalks in an integrated processing strategy targeting two products: extracted hemicelluloses (HC) and papermaking fibers. Preliminary trials were conducted to assess the individual or the combined effects of biomass treatment on the quality of the obtained hemicelluloses and papermaking fibers. Depending on the hot alkaline extraction (HAE) conditions, the extracted HC had a xylan content between 44–63%. The xylan removal yield ranged between 19–35%. The recovery of HC from the extraction liquor and final black liquor was significantly affected by process conditions. The experimental approach continued with the study of HAE conditions on the obtained paper’s mechanical properties. The optimization approach considered conserving paper strength properties while achieving an equilibrium with the highest possible HC extraction yield. The optimal values are sodium hydroxide concentration (1%), process time (33 min), and temperature (100 °C). The xylan content in the separated HC sample was ~55%. An extended extraction of HC from the resulting pulp under hot alkaline conditions with 5% NaOH was performed to prove the HC influence on paper strength. The xylan content in HC samples was 65%. The consequence of xylan content reduction in pulp leads to 30–50% mechanical strength loss. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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23 pages, 7567 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Selected Crosslinking and Stabilization Methods on the Properties of Porous Chitosan Composites Dedicated for Medical Applications

by Monika Biernat, Anna Woźniak, Milena Chraniuk, Mirosława Panasiuk, Paulina Tymowicz-Grzyb, Joanna Pagacz, Agnieszka Antosik, Lidia Ciołek, Beata Gromadzka and Zbigniew Jaegermann

Polymers 2023, 15(11), 2507; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112507 - 29 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1554

Abstract

Chitosan is one of the most commonly employed natural polymers for biomedical applications. However, in order to obtain stable chitosan biomaterials with appropriate strength properties, it is necessary to subject it to crosslinking or stabilization. Composites based on chitosan and bioglass were prepared using the lyophilization method. In the experimental design, six different methods were used to obtain stable, porous chitosan/bioglass biocomposite materials. This study compared the crosslinking/stabilization of chitosan/bioglass composites with ethanol, thermal dehydration, sodium tripolyphosphate, vanillin, genipin, and sodium β-glycerophosphate. The physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties of the obtained materials were compared. The results showed that all the selected crosslinking methods allow the production of stable, non-cytotoxic porous composites of chitosan/bioglass. The composite with genipin stood out with the best of the compared properties, taking into account biological and mechanical characteristics. The composite stabilized with ethanol is distinct in terms of its thermal properties and swelling stability, and it also promotes cell proliferation. Regarding the specific surface area, the highest value exposes the composite stabilized by the thermal dehydration method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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16 pages, 6785 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Surgical Thread from a Bioplastic Based on Nopal Mucilage

by Evelyn Herrera-Ibarra, Mercedes Salazar-Hernández, Alfonso Talavera-López, O. J. Solis-Marcial, Rosa Hernandez-Soto, Jose P. Ruelas-Leyva and José A. Hernández

Polymers 2023, 15(9), 2112; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15092112 - 28 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1352

Abstract

Currently, natural materials represent a sustainable option for the manufacture of biopolymers with numerous industrial applications and characteristics comparable with synthetic materials. Nopal mucilage (NM) is an excellent natural resource for the synthesis of bioplastics (BPs). In the present research, the fabrication of biopolymers by using NM is addressed. Changes in the plasticizer (sorbitol and cellulose) concentration, in addition to the implementation of two sources of starch (corn starch (CS) and potato starch (PS)) to obtain the surgical thread, were analyzed. The NM extracted was close to 14% with ethanol. During the characterization of the extract, properties such as moisture, humidity, viscosity, and functional groups, among others, were determined. In the CS and PS analysis, different structures of the polymeric chains were observed. BP degradation with different solvents was performed. Additionally, the addition of sorbitol and cellulose for the BP mixtures presenting the highest resistance to solvent degradation and less solubility to water was conducted. The obtained thread had a uniform diameter, good elasticity, and low capillarity compared to other prototypes reported in the literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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12 pages, 4600 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Fermentation of Hyaluronan with Different Molecular Weights by Human Gut Microbiota: Differential Effects on Gut Microbiota Structure and Metabolic Function

by Ruohan Zhao, Chuan Zhang, Leilei Yu, Chengcheng Zhang, Jianxin Zhao, Arjan Narbad, Qixiao Zhai and Fengwei Tian

Polymers 2023, 15(9), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15092103 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1197

Abstract

Hyaluronan (HA) has various biological functions and is used extensively as a dietary supplement. Previous studies have shown that the probiotic effects of polysaccharides are closely associated with their molecular properties. The intestinal microbiota has been demonstrated to degrade HA; however, the regulatory effects of different molecular weights (MW) of HA on gut microbiota and metabolites are unknown. In the present study, we performed in vitro fermentation of human-derived feces for three MWs of HA (HA1, 32.3 kDa; HA2, 411 kDa; and HA3, 1510 kDa) to investigate the differences in the fermentation properties of HA with different MWs. We found that gut microbiota can utilize all HAs and, consequently, produce large amounts of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In addition, we showed that all three HA MWs promoted the growth of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Faecalibacterium, with HA1 being more effective at promoting the growth of Bacteroides. HAs have various regulatory effects on the structure and metabolites of the gut microbiota. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that alterations in gut microbiota and their metabolites were significantly correlated with changes in metabolic markers. For instance, HA1 enriched α-eleostearic acid and DL-3-aminoisobutyric acid by regulating the abundance of Bacteroides, and HA3 enriched Thymidin by regulating Faecalibacterium. Collectively, the fermentation properties of HA vary across MW, and our results provide insights into the potential association between the MW of HA and its fermentation characteristics by the gut microbiota. These findings provide insights into the influence of the gut microbiota and HAs on the health of the host. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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13 pages, 2535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel and Facile Colorimetric Detection of Reducing Sugars in Foods via In Situ Formed Gelatin-Capped Silver Nanoparticles

by Reda M. El-Shishtawy, Yasser M. Al Angari, Maha M. Alotaibi and Yaaser Q. Almulaiky

Polymers 2023, 15(5), 1086; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15051086 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2161

Abstract

The evolution of green technology for the simple and ecological formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) inspired the present work for simple and efficient detection of reducing sugars (RS) in foods. The proposed method relies on gelatin as the capping and stabilizing agent and the analyte (RS) as the reducing agent. This work may attract significant attention, especially in the industry, for testing the sugar content using gelatin-capped silver nanoparticles as it not only detects the sugar in food, but also determines the content (%), which could be an alternative technique to the conventionally used DNS colorimetric method. For this purpose, a certain amount of maltose was mixed with a gelatin-silver nitrate. Different conditions that may affect the color changes at 434 nm owing to the in situ formed AgNPs, such as gelatin-silver nitrate ratio, PH, time, and temperature, have been investigated. The 1:3 mg/mg ratio of gelatin-silver nitrate dissolved in 10 mL distilled water was most effective in color formation. The development of AgNPs color increases within 8–10 min at PH 8.5 as the selected optimum value and at the optimum temperature of 90 °C for the evolution of the gelatin-silver reagent’s redox reaction. The gelatin-silver reagent showed a fast response (less than 10 min) with a detection limit for maltose at 46.67 µM. In addition, the selectivity of maltose was checked in the presence of starch and after its hydrolysis with α-amylase. Compared with the conventionally used dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) colorimetric method, the proposed method could be applied to commercial fresh apple juice, watermelon, and honey to prove its viability for detecting RS in fruits; the total reducing sugar content was 287, 165, and 751 mg/g, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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20 pages, 3138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Alkaline Extraction of Xylan-Based Hemicelluloses from Wheat Straws: Effects of Microwave, Ultrasound, and Freeze–Thaw Cycles

by Adrian Cătălin Puițel, Gabriel Dan Suditu, Elena Niculina Drăgoi, Maricel Danu, Gabriela-Liliana Ailiesei, Cătălin Dumitrel Balan, Daniela-Lucia Chicet and Mircea Teodor Nechita

Polymers 2023, 15(4), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15041038 - 19 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1818

Abstract

The alkaline extraction of hemicelluloses from a mixture of three varieties of wheat straw (containing 40.1% cellulose, 20.23% xylan, and 26.2% hemicellulose) was analyzed considering the following complementary pre-treatments: freeze–thaw cycles, microwaves, and ultrasounds. The two cycles freeze–thaw approach was selected based on simplicity and energy savings for further analysis and optimization. Experiments planned with Design Expert were performed. The regression model determined through the response surface methodology based on the severity factor (defined as a function of time and temperature) and alkali concentration as variables was then used to optimize the process in a multi-objective case considering the possibility of further use for pulping. To show the properties and chemical structure of the separated hemicelluloses, several analytical methods were used: high-performance chromatography (HPLC), Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR), thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry analysis (TG, DTG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The verified experimental optimization result indicated the possibility of obtaining hemicelluloses material containing 3.40% glucan, 85.51% xylan, and 7.89% arabinan. The association of hot alkaline extraction with two freeze–thaw cycles allows the partial preservation of the hemicellulose polymeric structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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20 pages, 2102 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structural and Physicochemical Characterization of Extracted Proteins Fractions from Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as a Potential Food Ingredient to Replace Ovalbumin in Foams and Emulsions

by Daniela Soto-Madrid, Nicole Pérez, Marlen Gutiérrez-Cutiño, Silvia Matiacevich and Rommy N. Zúñiga

Polymers 2023, 15(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15010110 - 27 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2874

Abstract

Chickpeas are the third most abundant legume crop worldwide, having a high protein content (14.9–24.6%) with interesting technological properties, thus representing a sustainable alternative to animal proteins. In this study, the surface and structural properties of total (TE) and sequential (ALB, GLO, and GLU) protein fractions isolated from defatted chickpea flour were evaluated and compared with an animal protein, ovalbumin (OVO). Differences in their physicochemical properties were evidenced when comparing TE with ALB, GLO, and GLU fractions. In addition, using a simple and low-cost extraction method it was obtained a high protein yield (82 ± 4%) with a significant content of essential and hydrophobic amino acids. Chickpea proteins presented improved interfacial and surface behavior compared to OVO, where GLO showed the most significant effects, correlated with its secondary structure and associated with its flexibility and higher surface hydrophobicity. Therefore, chickpea proteins have improved surface properties compared to OVO, evidencing their potential use as foam and/or emulsion stabilizers in food formulations for the replacement of animal proteins. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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Review

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52 pages, 1981 KiB

Open AccessReview

Lignins as Promising Renewable Biopolymers and Bioactive Compounds for High-Performance Materials

by Cornelia Vasile and Mihaela Baican

Polymers 2023, 15(15), 3177; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15153177 - 26 Jul 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3649

Abstract

The recycling of biomass into high-value-added materials requires important developments in research and technology to create a sustainable circular economy. Lignin, as a component of biomass, is a multipurpose aromatic polymer with a significant potential to be used as a renewable bioresource in many fields in which it acts both as promising biopolymer and bioactive compound. This comprehensive review gives brief insights into the recent research and technological trends on the potential of lignin development and utilization. It is divided into ten main sections, starting with an outlook on its diversity; main properties and possibilities to be used as a raw material for fuels, aromatic chemicals, plastics, or thermoset substitutes; and new developments in the use of lignin as a bioactive compound and in nanoparticles, hydrogels, 3D-printing-based lignin biomaterials, new sustainable biomaterials, and energy production and storage. In each section are presented recent developments in the preparation of lignin-based biomaterials, especially the green approaches to obtaining nanoparticles, hydrogels, and multifunctional materials as blends and bio(nano)composites; most suitable lignin type for each category of the envisaged products; main properties of the obtained lignin-based materials, etc. Different application categories of lignin within various sectors, which could provide completely sustainable energy conversion, such as in agriculture and environment protection, food packaging, biomedicine, and cosmetics, are also described. The medical and therapeutic potential of lignin-derived materials is evidenced in applications such as antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor agents; carriers for drug delivery systems with controlled/targeting drug release; tissue engineering and wound healing; and coatings, natural sunscreen, and surfactants. Lignin is mainly used for fuel, and, recently, studies highlighted more sustainable bioenergy production technologies, such as the supercapacitor electrode, photocatalysts, and photovoltaics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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29 pages, 2246 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advances in the Utilization of Tea Polysaccharides: Preparation, Physicochemical Properties, and Health Benefits

by Qian Wang, Xiaoyan Yang, Changwei Zhu, Guodong Liu, Yujun Sun and Lisheng Qian

Polymers 2022, 14(14), 2775; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14142775 - 06 Jul 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2512

Abstract

Tea polysaccharide (TPS) is the second most abundant ingredient in tea following tea polyphenols. As a complex polysaccharide, TPS has a complex chemical structure and a variety of bioactivities, such as anti-oxidation, hypoglycemia, hypolipidemic, immune regulation, and anti-tumor. Additionally, it shows excellent development and application prospects in food, cosmetics, and medical and health care products. However, numerous studies have shown that the bioactivity of TPS is closely related to its sources, processing methods, and extraction methods. Therefore, the authors of this paper reviewed the relevant recent research and conducted a comprehensive and systematic review of the extraction methods, physicochemical properties, and bioactivities of TPS to strengthen the understanding and exploration of the bioactivities of TPS. This review provides a reference for preparing and developing functional TPS products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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19 pages, 1148 KiB

Open AccessReview

Milk Whey Hydrolysates as High Value-Added Natural Polymers: Functional Properties and Applications

by Arely León-López, Xóchitl Alejandra Pérez-Marroquín, Ana Guadalupe Estrada-Fernández, Gieraldin Campos-Lozada, Alejandro Morales-Peñaloza, Rafael G. Campos-Montiel and Gabriel Aguirre-Álvarez

Polymers 2022, 14(6), 1258; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14061258 - 21 Mar 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4000

Abstract

There are two types of milk whey obtained from cheese manufacture: sweet and acid. It retains around 55% of the nutrients of the milk. Milk whey is considered as a waste, creating a critical pollution problem, because 9 L of whey are produced from every 10 L of milk. Some treatments such as hydrolysis by chemical, fermentation process, enzymatic action, and green technologies (ultrasound and thermal treatment) are successful in obtaining peptides from protein whey. Milk whey peptides possess excellent functional properties such as antihypertensive, antiviral, anticancer, immunity, and antioxidant, with benefits in the cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, immune, and nervous system. This review presents an update of the applications of milk whey hydrolysates as a high value-added peptide based on their functional properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Natural Polymers: Extraction Methods and Applications)

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