Macromolecular Materials and Engineering最新文献

Hydrogen bonding plays a pivotal yet often overlooked role in shaping the structure and dynamics of alginate-based materials. In this study, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate how hydration and solvent environment influence the organization of neutral alginate at the molecular and mesoscale levels. Starting from short isolated chains and progressing toward periodic and entangled systems, we systematically vary water content and examine structural responses using radial and minimal distance distribution functions, as well as geometric analysis based on Alpha Shapes. We find that hydration transforms the polymer matrix from compact, rigid bundles into layered and porous nanostructures, with water acting not merely as a plasticizer but as an active mediator of hydrogen bonding. Even small amounts of water accelerate supramolecular aggregation and promote internal flexibility. At higher hydration, polymer–polymer contacts become more diffuse yet remain structurally coherent. A comparison with ethanol reveals solvent-specific effects on porosity and tortuosity, while the functional surface composition remains robust across all conditions, closely reflecting the molecular stoichiometry of the polymer. These results provide a detailed molecular-level understanding of solvent-mediated self-assembly in alginate and offer general design principles for soft, bioinspired materials where hydrogen bonding is the key structural motif.

Front Cover: The crystallization kinetics of PLA filament is analyzed by considering melt calorimetric (erasing thermomechanical history) and solid calorimetric (preserving nuclei) protocols. Pre-existing nuclei accelerate crystallization, leading to crystallization time comparable with cooling time in Fused Filament Fabrication process. The proposed model is proved to be accurate in predicting the crystallinity evolution for two different crystalline phases of PLA through both protocols. More details can be found in the Research Article by Sara Liparoti, Dario Cavallo, Maria Laura Di Lorenzo, and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/mame.202500204).

Metal complexes are utilized in numerous medical and biological applications. However, their direct use as small-molecule agents is often challenging due to rapid systemic clearance, unfavorable biodistribution, and loss of catalytic efficacy under the diluted conditions of a biological milieu. Incorporating the metal complexes into a polymer addresses these issues, providing three key advantages. First, it significantly improves pharmacokinetics by leveraging the size, which leads to a prolonged circulation and an enhanced therapeutic index for systemically administered medicines. Second, the polymer matrix creates a locally concentrated environment for the metal complexes. Neighboring metal complexes allow for efficient reactions, such as the generation of reactive oxygen species, even under biologically dilute conditions. Third, the multivalent effect of multiple binding sites on the polymer chain dramatically increases molecular recognition and binding affinity. This can be the driving force for supramolecular formation, including nanoparticles and hydrogels. Combining these merits could advance a new generation of biomaterials, enabling various types of theranostics. The polymer matrix also promotes catalytic reactions of metal complexes that cannot feasibly proceed in an ordinary aqueous solution state, mirroring a biological system. Thus, we believe that polymer-metal complexes will further promote biomaterial development, including in medicines and artificial tissues.

Front Cover: A multilayered drug-loaded dressing developed via hybrid fabrication combines PVA and PCL matrices with DOX, AMOX, and IBU for postoperative cancer treatment. The design enables controlled and sequential release for therapeutic action. More details can be found in the Research Article by Ayse Betul Bingol and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/mame.202500218).

Epilepsy is a disease that arises from the disruption of nerve conduction in different parts of the brain due to intense and repetitive discharge of nerve cells, and some of the symptoms manifest through seizures. The low bioavailability of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used for treatment and the inability to administer drugs orally during seizures highlight the need for new drug delivery systems. In the present study, the effect of ethosuximide (ETX) supplementation to polylactic acid (PLA)/bismuth ferrite (BFO, BiFeO₃) mixture on epileptic seizures was investigated in detail. ETX-loaded fibers were created by adding ETX in different ratios (10, 15, and 20 mg) through the same procedures. The morphological analysis showed that the minimum diameter belonged to the 10% PLA fibers. According to the tensile testing results, the 10% PLA + 5 mg BFO fiber had the highest tensile strength value (2.49 ± 1.01 MPa). The biocompatibility results, performed with the human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y), demonstrated that all fibers had no cytotoxic effect. The ETX release was performed both under and without an electric field in vitro conditions. The results demonstrated that the ETX released faster from fibers under an electric field.

Piezoelectric materials convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and are used as sensors, actuators, and energy harvesters in Industry 4.0. Polymer nanocomposites with adjustable performance and affordability could transform piezoelectric technology. Fluoropolymers like poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its copolymers are common in developing these composites with various nanoparticles. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is promising due to its non-centrosymmetric structure, high piezoelectric coefficient, and versatile nanostructure synthesis. This review covers recent trends in fabricating and optimizing piezoelectric polymer nanocomposites based on fluoropolymers and ZnO, including synthesis principles and advanced methods. It examines approaches to enhance piezoelectric and physical properties, emphasizing PVDF/ZnO composites' applications. The review also discusses challenges and future directions, serving as a resource for researchers and industry professionals aiming to improve piezoelectric materials for next-generation use.

E. Asare, B. Azimi, E. Vasili, D.A. Gregory, M. Raut, C.S. Taylor, S. Linari, S. Danti, and I. Roy, “Electrospun Fibers of Polyhydroxyalkanoate/Bacterial Cellulose Blends and Their Role in Nerve Tissue Engineering,” Macromolecular Molecules and Engineering 310, no. 9 (2025): https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.202500074.

A Conflict of Interest statement was missed.

We would like to add the following statement:

Prof. I. Roy and Dr D. A. Gregory are Directors of PHAsT Limited that develops biomedical grade polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) for a variety of applications, including healthcare and biomedical applications. The polymers used in this work were produced in the Roylab and not by PHAsT.

We apologize for this error.

The present work explores the use of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) + thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) core–shell composite filaments to enable additive manufacturing of soft structures with tunable mechanical response. It investigates the effect of core/shell ratio of the filament, and raster orientation via printing, to control the mechanical anisotropy of 3D-printed structures. Load frame experiments demonstrate control over a wide range of tensile modulus (50–2200 MPa) and flexural modulus (50–2600 MPa), by varying the number and sequence of 0°, ±45°, and 90° raster orientations (plies) within 16-layer test coupons. Asymmetric (with respect to the sample mid-plane) ply stacks are shown to exhibit a bending response that is sensitive to bending direction. Segmented designs, in which print orientation is varied along the length of a test coupon, are fabricated and exhibit localized bending. Analytical composite laminate theory and finite element simulations are shown to capture the broad trends in mechanical response for these 3D printed soft composites, although these models overpredict structural stiffness as ABS volume fraction increases due to strain localization and softening in the TPE phase.