Biopolymer Research Articles (Page 1)

Thermoresponsive hydrogels have been extensively investigated for biological applications, particularly in wound healing due to their capacity to undergo phase transitions in response to temperature changes. Natural polymers have been identified as promising candidates for hydrogel synthesis owing to their intrinsic biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hydrophilicity. In this review, the critical role of natural polymers in the development of thermoresponsive hydrogels for wound healing applications is highlighted. Wound healing is recognized as a complex, multiphase process that necessitates an optimal microenvironment to facilitate tissue regeneration while minimizing inflammation and infection. Natural polymers such as chitosan, gelatin, agarose, and cellulose derivatives have been considered ideal for wound dressings, as they provide favorable conditions for cellular adhesion and proliferation. The physicochemical properties of natural polymers, including their thermoresponsive behaviors governed by phase transition temperatures, such as the Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) and Upper Critical Solution Temperature (UCST), along with their gelation mechanisms, are discussed. Recent advancements in natural polymers with enhanced thermoresponsive characteristics are examined for their improved therapeutic outcomes. To address limitations in mechanical strength and response performance, various formulation strategies, including physical and chemical cross-linking, as well as hybrid systems incorporating synthetic polymers, have been explored. Applications in wound care, such as controlled drug delivery systems and smart dressing technologies, are reviewed in detail. Finally, the challenges and future directions for clinical translation of these systems are considered. This comprehensive review underscores the potential of natural polymer-based thermoresponsive hydrogels as intelligent, bioactive platforms for accelerating wound healing and advancing regenerative medical therapies.

Anisotropic hydrogels have emerged as a groundbreaking class of biomaterials, exhibiting remarkable potential in biomedical applications owing to their directionally dependent physical, chemical, and biological properties. This review comprehensively explores recent advancements in the design, fabrication, and functional applications of biomedical anisotropic hydrogels, with a focus on their unique structural and performance characteristics. We systematically analyze both natural and synthetic polymer matrices, highlighting key materials such as chitosan, sodium alginate, and polyacrylamide, and their roles in achieving tailored mechanical, electrical, and biocompatible properties. Advanced preparation techniques, including template-directed synthesis, external field-driven methods (e.g., electric, magnetic, and shear fields), and 3D printing, are critically evaluated for their ability to precisely engineer anisotropic microstructures. Furthermore, we discuss cutting-edge testing methodologies to characterize these hydrogels, emphasizing microscopic imaging, mechanical rheology, and biosafety assessments. The intelligent responsiveness of anisotropic hydrogels to stimuli such as light, temperature, and pH is also examined, showcasing their adaptability for dynamic applications. Finally, we highlight their potential in tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound dressing, and health monitoring, while addressing current challenges and future prospects. This review underscores the pivotal role of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing anisotropic hydrogels toward clinical translation and next-generation biomedical innovations.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious health problem that often requires long-term treatment. Many antihypertensive drugs have drawbacks such as a short half-life, low absorption, and frequent dosing, which can reduce patient compliance. Microspheres are tiny particles that can carry drugs and release them slowly in the body. They improve drug stability, extend release time, reduce side effects, and increase effectiveness. Different types of microspheres, such as bioadhesive, floating, magnetic, and polymer-based, can be made using natural or synthetic polymers. In hypertension treatment, drugs like losartan, diltiazem, and metoprolol have been successfully formulated into microspheres, showing better control of blood pressure and reduced dosing frequency. This review highlights the methods of preparation, advantages, limitations, and applications of microspheres, with special focus on their role in improving antihypertensive therapy. Microsphere-based drug delivery offers a promising approach for safer, more effective, and patient-friendly hypertension management

Hydrogels derived from natural and synthetic polymers have emerged as versatile materials with wide applications in food science, biotechnology, and health-related sectors, providing unique opportunities to encapsulate, protect, and deliver bioactive compounds, as well as to create new textures and functional properties in food systems. This review summarizes the latest advances in the design and application of hydrogels, highlighting the critical relationship between polymer structure, crosslinking strategies, and functional performance. The analysis reveals that while significant progress has been achieved, challenges persist in scaling laboratory-scale hydrogel systems to industrially relevant processes, where stability, reproducibility, and regulatory acceptance remain major bottlenecks. Emerging directions in the field include the development of smart hydrogels that respond to environmental stimuli (pH, temperature, or enzymatic activity), sustainable fabrication routes using renewable biopolymers, integration with advanced processing technologies such as 3D printing or microfluidics, and biorefinery approaches emphasizing their role in valorizing agro-industrial by-products into high-value functional materials. Hydrogels represent a promising platform at the interface of polymer science, food technology, and biotechnology, whose continued development will depend on multidisciplinary innovation aiming to meet consumer demands for sustainable, safe, and health-promoting food systems.

Today, water pollution and the shortage of freshwater resources are among the most urgent global issues. As a result, researchers have paid close attention to methods for purifying and improving the reuse of industrial wastewater. In this study, a natural polymer membrane made from chitosan, which is derived from shrimp shells, was used to treat produced water. To improve the performance of chitosan membranes, a mixed matrix membrane composed of chitosan and TiO2 nanoparticles (used as the filler) was synthesized, and its effectiveness in treating produced water was tested under different operational conditions. The embedding of TiO2 NPs in the chitosan matrix improved the pure water flux and flux recovery ratio by about 106.6% and 87.6%, respectively. The performance of the developed mixed matrix membrane (3M) was examined by analyzing the effects of pressure, initial pollutant concentration (COD), and volumetric flow rate using a central composite design. Results showed that the 3M membrane, under optimal conditions (operation pressure: 3.86bar, initial COD concentration: 1975.1mg/L, and volumetric flow rate: 157.98ml/min), can reduce COD, TDS, and TSS of inlet wastewater by 90.05%, 86%, and 84%, respectively. Testing the membrane over 10 consecutive cycles revealed a 22% decline in wastewater treatment efficiency after 10 cycles.

This work focuses on the degradation of fibers upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Physical changes in fibers following UV exposure were examined, and both polyamide (PA) and polyester (PET) fibers exhibited surface degradation when observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). UV radiation initiates photooxidative degradation, which leads to polymer chain scission, free radical formation, and a reduction in molecular weight. These processes deteriorate the mechanical properties of fibers and eventually render the materials unusable after an unpredictable period of exposure. This phenomenon, known as UV degradation, affects a wide range of natural and synthetic polymers, including rubbers, neoprene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Prolonged UV exposure can cause fading, embrittlement, and loss of performance. When absorbed, UV energy excites photons within the polymer structure, generating free radicals that accelerate degradation, especially in the presence of catalyst residues. Since many pure plastics lack inherent UV resistance, their long-term durability is at serious risk, emphasizing the importance of protective measures in polymer applications.

Two‐dimensional boron offers unique advantages in bone tissue engineering, unlocking capabilities that conventional additives struggle to achieve. Herein, the 2D morphology and intrinsic bioactivity of boron nanoplatelets are leveraged, to be incorporated into collagen‐based scaffolds and simultaneously achieve osteogenic, mechanically reinforcing, and antimicrobial effects, with a shift toward neurogenic, angiogenic, and anti‐inflammatory signaling. Boron nanoplatelets, synthesized from nonlayered precursors using liquid‐phase exfoliation, are combined with collagen to form boron‐collagen scaffolds (BColl). Boron significantly reinforces the collagen matrix, beneficial for mechanoresponsive bone cells. Osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells exhibit healthy morphology and proliferation on BColl films and scaffolds, with extended culture leading to increased alkaline phosphatase release and significantly increased calcium deposition, indicating enhanced osteogenesis. E. coli viability decreases significantly on BColl films, demonstrating their potential to limit postimplantation infections. Finally, angiogenic, neurogenic, and anti‐inflammatory signaling, with dose‐dependent upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor‐A, nerve growth factor‐beta, and interleukin‐10, and downregulation of interleukin‐6 are observed, highlighting boron's potential to drive pro‐reparative processes. Taken together, these data showcase boron's potential for next‐generation bone biomaterials, by offering multifunctional benefits to clinically relevant aspects of bone regeneration such as mineralization, angiogenesis, and innervation, while improving the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of natural polymer scaffolds.

Purpose Most traditional packaging materials such as plastics are obtained from materials that are not environmentally friendly and could constitute health hazards. The ongoing battle against plastic pollution had pushed development of a number of new technologies that include edible films as modern alternatives, biodegradable coatings and active or intelligent packaging. This study aims to shed light based on developments in innovative biomaterials on the most recent advancements in food packaging technologies that potentially surpass traditional plastics in terms of cost, performance, safety and sustainability. Design/methodology/approach A bibliometric analysis of a quantitative approach was used to analyze large volumes of scientific literature. A database of 236 papers was obtained by doing a thorough search using keywords like sustainable biopolymer applications in value-added and functional food packaging across major bibliometric information sources like Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar. The review criteria were satisfied by 28 publications. Findings A number of environmentally friendly packaging choices were found, including biopolymers like polylactic acid and polybutylene adipate terephthalate. Nonetheless, polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan, gelatin or protein-based films comprise the majority of effective packaging methods. Although the technology seems adequately developed for real-world application, a substantial research gap has been found with relation to the expansion of natural polymer-based packaging materials. Research has shown that adding nanoparticles can enhance the properties of natural polymer films. For instance, adding TiO2 nanoparticles to chitosan-cassava starch films improved tensile strength by over 15% and reduced UV transmittance by 97%. Incorporating TiO2 nanotubes into carrageenan films improved their UV-blocking, mechanical strength and antibacterial activity, which resulted in significantly better banana preservation over 12 days. Originality/value The introduction of biopolymer-based food packaging on a global scale and use it as a substitute for plastic packaging has not been fully studied. The information gathered will assist professionals and researchers in understanding the importance of biopolymers as sustainable materials in functional and value-added food packaging.

The PTO (Power-take-off) shaft is an essential rotatory component in agricultural tractor, used for transmitting power to shaft-driven implements such as rotary tiller, thresher, PTO driven pump, etc. During field operations, the PTO is subjected to uneven vibrational loads, which often lead to premature failure. These failures pose significant challenges pertinent to structural integrity, product quality as well as customer satisfaction. The current study conducts static and harmonic analysis to observe failure characteristics of conventional medium-carbon steel shaft under torsional loading. This study also explores the utilization of synthetic, natural, and hybrid-based fiber-based polymer composite to optimize overall weight and evaluate the impact of fiber orientation on stress and deformation behavior. The shaft was made up of unidirectional hemp and carbon-bamboo fiber reinforced epoxy, assuming isotropic characteristics for the fibers and polymer. A Representative Volume Element with a hexagonal array of circular fibers was developed using ANSYS Material Designer, maintaining a fiber volume fraction of 0.3 within the matrix. Laminated composites were then modeled using ANSYS Pre-Post Module with varying ply orientation to obtain an optimum configuration. Compared to the results of baseline steel shaft, Carbon fiber, Hemp fiber and Carbon-Bamboo fiber configurations demonstrated a mass reduction of 75.71%, 80% and 77.5%, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of composite PTO shaft as more economical, biodegradable, sustainable and light weight alternatives to steel in modern agricultural applications.

Dissolvable microneedles (DMNs) have emerged as a groundbreaking drug delivery platform, offering a minimally invasive alternative to conventional parenteral and oral administration while enabling precise, pain-free, and patient-friendly therapeutic delivery. This review provides a comprehensive technical overview of the design, materials, and translational challenges of DMN systems. We begin by examining critical design parameters, including microneedle geometry, array configuration, mechanical strength, and drug distribution, that directly influence insertion efficiency, structural integrity, and dissolution kinetics. The role of mathematical modeling in optimizing DMN performance is also explored, offering insights into drug diffusion, structural mechanics, and dissolution kinetics. The materials section highlights the diverse natural and synthetic polymers used in DMN fabrication, along with additives and stabilizers that modulate drug release, improve biocompatibility, and ensure formulation stability. Despite significant advances in preclinical research, the translation of DMNs into clinical and commercial applications remains hindered by several factors, including limitations in drug loading capacity, manufacturing scalability, dose precision, long-term storage stability, and regulatory complexity. We also explore user-centric challenges, including ease of administration, patient compliance, and cost-effectiveness. The final section discusses current strategies to address these barriers, including the use of smart and stimuli-responsive polymers, next-generation microfabrication techniques, and packaging innovations designed to enhance shelf life and user handling. Through this, we aim to provide a critical perspective on the design, materials, and future potential of DMN technology, charting a path toward its successful integration into mainstream healthcare systems.

A sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective iron-catalyzed olefin epoxidation is achieved by coordinating iron ions with silk fibroin (SF), a biocompatible protein derived from Bombyx mori cocoons. Unlike conventional systems based on complex ligands or synthetic supports, SF acts both as a support and as a recyclable ligand, efficiently coordinating iron through a simple aqueous process. The resulting SF-coordinated Iron system [Fe(SF)] promotes epoxidation of a broad range of olefins under mild conditions, with excellent yields and low metal loading. Notably, the system combines high activity with remarkable recyclability, and it can be easily regenerated. This work introduces a green, scalable strategy for iron catalysis, demonstrating the untapped potential of a natural polymer as a renewable ligand in heterogeneous catalysis.

Tissue engineering-based vascular reconstruction represents a promising therapeutic strategy for ischaemic stroke. However, in the confined stroke cavity, conventional implants are unable to simultaneously provide swelling-resistant support and growth-permissive internal space, which are crucial for effective revascularization. To address this limitation, we develop a bioinspired, non-expansive biodegradable matrix (NEBM) through covalent-non-covalent assembly of commercially available, clinical-grade natural polymers. We show that NEBM recapitulates key features of brain extracellular matrix-including porous microstructure and tissue-matched stiffness-to deliver structural stability. Moreover, its progressively degradable structure establishes a dynamic remodelling niche that directs cellular behaviour towards promoting angiogenesis. Compared with commercial Matrigel-based matrix, NEBM fosters blood vessel organoid development with higher vascular density, larger vessel diameters and more distinct arterial features. In both subcutaneous and stroke transplantation models, we find that NEBM facilitates the integration of blood vessel organoids with the host vasculature. Strikingly, this revascularization in stroke cavity stimulates neurogenesis, contributing to significant functional recovery. As such, our study provides valuable guidance to design clinically translatable matrices for organ repair and regeneration in confined environments.

Wound dressing is crucial for managing wound healing, protecting wounds from the environment, and accelerating the healing process. Recently, wound dressing is evolving from traditional to modern-interactive design. The main problem with traditional wound dressings is their limited effectiveness, which hinders optimal wound therapy. Wound dressings can be developed into modern wound dressings (film, sponge, injectable hydrogel, and nanofiber). They can be fabricated using natural polymers, such as chitosan, alginate, cellulose, gelatin, and collagen, combined with metals. Natural polymers, known as biopolymers, offer beneficial properties for wound healing, including bioactivity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Additionally, metals like silver, copper, cerium, and zinc also exhibit potential pharmacological activity in the medical field. The fabrication of these materials holds significant potential for addressing wound healing challenges. This article discusses the development of natural polymer/metal-based scaffolds and their potential for wound healing management therapy. This innovative approach stands to offer an alternative to the existing strategies and enhance the effectiveness of wound healing management.

Agar as a natural polymer: From culture media to cutting-edge biomedical applications.

Protein-in-polysaccharide bioink for 3D bioprinting of muscle mimetic tissue constructs to treat volumetric muscle loss.

Natural biomaterials for contact lens-based ophthalmic drug delivery systems.

Bacterial cellulose as green matrix material for environmental-friendly electronic devices.

Nanomedicine for Prostate Cancer: Modern Therapies Based on Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles.

Harnessing lignin in membrane engineering: from green polymer to high-performance applications.

Emerging nanotechnologies in wound care: The role of metal and polymeric nanocomposites in enhancing healing and combating infections.