The review summarizes the data on the main chemical and physiological properties of iodine and its capability of complexation with natural and synthetic polymers. Iodine is the best known antiseptic used to prevent and treat microbial infections. Its unique capability of complexation with certain polymers opens wide opportunities for targeted and prolonged delivery to target organs. Polymeric complexes with iodine have another color, other morphology, a higher electrical conductivity, and higher biological activity as compared with initial polymers. The formation of \({\text{I}}_{3}^{ - }\) and \({\text{I}}_{5}^{ - }\) ions is associated with iodine–polymer complexation. Iodine-containing biocompatible adhesive controlled-release formulations are designed as part of research into iodine–polymer complexes. The field is promising in terms of treating certain diseases because tolerance to iodine compounds does not usually develop in microbial cells.

Chitosan (CHI) and chitosan/poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (CHI/POZ)-based films were prepared by casting from aqueous solutions of polymer blends with different compositions. Ciprofloxacin was used as a model drug in these formulations. The weight, thickness, folding endurance and transparency of blend films were measured and characterised. All films had a uniform thickness (0.06 ± 0.01 mm) and exhibited sufficient flexibility. The surface pHs of films ranged from 3.76 ± 0.49 to 4.14 ± 0.32, which is within the pH range suitable for vaginal applications. The cumulative release of the drug from the films in experiments in vitro was found to be 42 ± 2% and 56 ± 1% for pure CHI and CHI/POZ (40:60) films, respectively. Drug-free chitosan/poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) films showed weak antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. Drug-loaded CHI and CHI/POZ films showed good antimicrobial properties against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Mucoadhesive properties of these films with respect to freshly excised sheep vaginal mucosa were evaluated using a tensile method. It was established that all films were mucoadhesive, but an increase in POZ content in the blend resulted in a gradual reduction of their ability to stick to vaginal mucosa. These films could potentially find applications in vaginal drug delivery.

Although chitosan (CS) is used in many industries because of its low cost, biodegradability, nontoxic, antibacterial, and antioxidant qualities, it lacks sufficient mechanical and barrier properties. Biodegradable polymers based on CS, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and starch (S) were prepared at various ratios (1/3/6 and 1/5/4) via a blending polymerization process in the presence of water as the solvent and glacial acetic acid as the catalyst. The obtained biodegradable polymers were characterized via FTIR, TGA, SEM, and mechanical tests. The biodegradable polymers were mixed with rice straw and carbon black to study the effects of rice straw and carbon black on the physicomechanical properties of the biodegradable polymer films, including viscosity, tensile strength, elongation, and contact angle. The incorporation of rice straw and carbon black into a polymer blend significantly enhanced the physical and mechanical properties while also boosting their biodegradability by 36% and 15%, respectively, due to their biological activity. Notably, the CS/PVA/S blend with a ratio of 1/5/4, combined with rice straw, emerged as the standout performer. It exhibited superior mechanical strength and the shortest degradation time, outperforming the CS/PVA/S blended with a ratio of 1/3/6 mixed with carbon black. According to these findings, the biodegradable polymers became more soluble as the temperature increased from 30 to 45 °C.

Despite its broad application due to its affordability, biodegradability, and natural antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, chitosan (CS) still exhibits limitations in mechanical strength and barrier effectiveness. Owing to its unique chemical characteristics, itaconic acid (IT) presents potential as a compatibilizing agent in polymeric blend formulations. Biodegradable polymers composed of chitosan (CS), itaconic acid (IT), and starch (S) were synthesized using two polymerization methods. The first method involved grafting IT onto CS at varying ratios of IT (4%, 6%, and 8% wt.), using 1% v/v acetic acid/water as the solvent and potassium persulfate as the initiator. In the second approach, starch (S) was blended with the copolymer P(CS-g-IT) at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 5%, utilizing water as the solvent and glacial acetic acid as a catalyst. The resulting biodegradable films underwent characterization through FTIR, TGA, SEM, and mechanical property analysis. To further explore the effects of combining IT, starch, and carbon black, the blends, referred to as P[(CS-g-IT)-b-S], were also loaded with carbon black. This allowed for the evaluation of the materials’ physicomechanical properties, such as viscosity, tensile strength, elongation, and contact angle. The findings demonstrated that the presence of IT, starch, and carbon black collectively improved the films’ mechanical performance, physical traits, and biodegradability. Among the samples, the blended copolymer with 1% starch exhibited the highest mechanical properties, followed by the grafted copolymer with 8% IT and the blended copolymer mixed with carbon black at 7%. In contrast, the blended copolymer with 5% starch showed the highest hydrophilicity and the shortest degradation time compared to the grafted copolymer with 8% IT and the blended copolymer mixed with 7% carbon black.

Chitosan is a natural biopolymer, polysaccharide, a product of chitin deacetylation. Chitosan is a non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable polymer with high biological activity and stability in the environment. In addition, chitosan is obtained from natural renewable resources and is an inexpensive substance. Due to all these properties, chitosan is widely used in practical medicine, for example, in the form of hydrogel dosage forms in combination with natural and synthetic polymers. This review is focused on polymer hydrogel materials based on chitosan. Special attention is paid to the preparation and use of wound dressings for the treatment of wounds of various etiologies. The use of hydrogel wound dressings based on this polysaccharide allows to create a protective shell on the surface of various wounds, to prolong delivery of antibacterial agents, peptides and other active substances, which significantly increases the effectiveness of therapy. Bactericidal and sorption properties of chitosan-based hydrogels established in experimental and clinical studies are discussed.

This study examined the effect of partially replacing semi-reinforcing carbon black grade N550 (up to 10 pts. wt.) and fully replacing industrial chalk with natural shungite mineral in industrial formulations of elastomer compositions intended for manufacturing various rubber technical products. It has been shown that due to the high content of carbon and silicon components in the composition of shungite mineral micropowders, their use as a filler in elastomer formulations significantly improves the physical and mechanical properties of rubber technical products (RTPs) manufactured using such compositions. It was determined that the use of SM as a partial replacement for carbon black in rubbers intended for molded rubber technical products contributes to a reduction in Mooney viscosity (up to 26.8%) and optimal vulcanization time (up to 23.7%), achieving rubbers with the required set of physical–mechanical properties and with an enhancing sealing capability (up to 19.7%). It has been established that the use of shungite mineral micropowders as a complete replacement for industrial chalk increases the strength of rubber products (RTPs) by up to 18.5% and enhances their resistance to liquid aggressive environments.