Novel advanced biomaterials have recently gained great attention, especially in minimally invasive surgical techniques. By applying sophisticated design and engineering methods, various elastomer–hydrogel systems (EHS) with outstanding performance have been developed in the last decades. These systems composed of elastomers and hydrogels are very attractive due to their high biocompatibility, injectability, controlled porosity and often antimicrobial properties. Moreover, their elastomeric properties and bioadhesiveness are making them suitable for soft tissue engineering. Herein, we present the advances in the current state-of-the-art design principles and strategies for strong interface formation inspired by nature (bio-inspiration), the diverse properties and applications of elastomer–hydrogel systems in different medical fields, in particular, in tissue engineering. The functionalities of these systems, including adhesive properties, injectability, antimicrobial properties and degradability, applicable to tissue engineering will be discussed in a context of future efforts towards the development of advanced biomaterials.

The presented work deals with the photocuring of telechelic macromonomers derived from plant-based fatty acids to obtain a soft polymer network. Compositions were made by mixing macromonomers with three different concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2%) of two type I photoinitiators (Omnirad 2022 and Omnirad 819). All formulations were then subjected to photopolymerization studies by applying UV-assisted differential scanning calorimetry (UV-DSC) measurements at isothermal conditions at 37 °C with a narrow light source wavelength of 365 nm and irradiation (light intensity) of 20 and 50 mW/cm². The percentage conversions, reaction orders, and constants were estimated based on autocatalytic Sestak–Berggen and Avrami models. In this work, for the first time, the influence of the curing conditions on the photopolymerization process, such as the photoinitiator concentration, light intensity, and oxygen presence/absence, were investigated for these novel systems. The results indicated significant differences between the two commercially available photoinitiators and their effects on photopolymerization kinetics. The maximum reaction rate was found to be considerably higher for Omnirad 2022 (which is a blend of three different compounds), especially at a lower light intensity, i.e., 20 mW/cm², compared to Omnirad 819. However, it led to lower maximum conversion in an air atmosphere. The dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMTA) revealed that light intensity, photoinitiator concentration, and oxygen presence had a strong effect on the storage modulus and loss modulus values. It was concluded that the chemical structure of the photoinitiator and curing conditions had a strong effect on the photopolymerization kinetics and properties of the prepared soft polymer networks.

Injectable and in situ photocurable biomaterials are receiving a lot of attention due to their ease of application via syringe or dedicated applicator and ability to be used in laparoscopic and robotic minimally invasive procedures.

Hydrophobic telechelic macromonomers derived from vegetable oil (VO) comprising ester-urethane linkages can be successfully photopolymerized after functionalization with methacrylic termini. While featuring hydrophobicity, they can be combined with PEGylated fibrinogen and methacrylated catecholamine to balance hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties. In this work, we performed hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation studies of amphiphilic (hybrid) UV-cured polymer networks in the presence of lipase . The degradation process was monitored by assessing structural changes via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, determining water uptake and weight loss, and revealing changes in surface morphology by micro-computed tomography. Incorporation of hydrophilic components into hydrophobic core contributed to accelerated degradation after 4 weeks due to better penetration of water molecules into the amphiphilic network as manifested by increased water uptake up to 50 wt.% and mass loss of 9 wt.%, respectively. We demonstrated that lipase is active towards ester bonds cleavage in amphiphilic hybrids. Importantly, polymer networks did not release acidic degradation products in an amount that could cause acidification of the medium. This study reveals that tailoring the molecular structure allows for customization of the susceptibility of cross-linked polymers to degradation, depending on the needs.

Growing environmental and human health concerns associated with the persistence of nondegradable polymeric materials have intensified the global demand for sustainable alternatives. Consequently, research has increasingly focused on the development of biobased and biodegradable polymers as a means to mitigate plastic pollution. In this context, the present study investigates the biodegradation behavior of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene succinate-co-dilinoleic succinate) (PBS–DLS) copolymers under mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) and thermophilic aerobic composting conditions. After 99 days of anaerobic incubation, the tested materials exhibited negligible mineralization and no significant mass loss, indicating limited biodegradability under oxygen-deficient conditions. In contrast, all materials underwent substantial degradation during thermophilic composting (97 days), with PBS–DLS 70–30 demonstrating the highest extent of mineralization─nearly twice that of PBS─and approximately 30% greater mass loss. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis revealed a decrease in molecular weight for all samples, with the most pronounced reductions observed under composting conditions. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed distinct structural alterations in both PBS and PBS–DLS following exposure to both environments, particularly for PBS–DLS 70–30. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicated measurable shifts in phase transition temperatures, consistent with polymer chain scission and morphological reorganization induced by degradation. Surface morphology analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), and macroscopic imaging showed minimal surface alteration after AD, while pronounced erosion and fragmentation were evident following composting. Collectively, these results underscore the limited anaerobic degradability of PBS and the markedly enhanced compostability of PBS–DLS copolymers with increasing DLS segment content. The findings highlight the potential of PBS–DLS copolymers as promising candidates for environmentally benign materials in sustainable packaging and biomedical applications.

This study explores the integration of triglycine, an oligopeptide, as a green molecular marker in 3D-printed poly­(1,4-butylene adipate-co-1,4-butylene terephthalate)/polylactide (PBAT/PLA)-based specimens with different printing temperatures to enhance the traceability of (bio)­degradable polymers. This approach supports the advancement of sustainable materials by enabling the identification of the material origin and degradation processes. The research assesses the behavior of the labeled polymer under UV exposure, evaluating the stability of the oligopeptide marker to ensure that the information remains retrievable even after exposure to environmental stressors. In addition, their behavior during aerobic composting, as well as anaerobic digestion, is investigated to promote environmentally friendly practices. This study employed an extraction procedure to isolate and retrieve encoded information, which was then analyzed using a mass spectrometry method, ESI/TIMS-Q-TOF. This makes it possible to determine the sequence of the oligopeptide and compare it with the previously used MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry procedure. Cytotoxicity studies were also conducted to assess the potential hazards associated with PBAT/PLA-based specimens, considering their potential biomedical applications. The PBAT/PLA-based specimens demonstrated good oligopeptide stability, enabling effective retrieval of recorded information from the green polymer/oligopeptide system even after UV exposure. UV irradiation affected cold crystallization temperature and melting temperature and caused self-chain/cross-linking of the PBAT/PLA-based specimens. In general, the analyses show that specimens printed at a higher temperature (190 °C) have a higher degradation rate than those printed at a lower temperature (155 °C). This phenomenon was attributed to the higher porosity and increased water permeability of the specimens printed at 190 °C, compared to those printed at 155 °C, which is likely due to the greater phase separation and reduced miscibility in the former.