The growing use of ionic liquids (ILs) necessitates an understanding of their environmental impact and toxicity levels. In this study, a series of amino acid-based ionic liquids containing the triethanolammonium (TEA) cation were evaluated for their biological activity against Lepidium sativum L., the mouse fibroblast cell line L929, a selection of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and the yeast Candida albicans. The influence of amino acid anion structure on toxicity was also examined. Among the tested ionic liquids, [TEA][Asp] exhibited low toxicity toward Lepidium sativum L., representing terrestrial plants, while [TEA][Phe] showed the lowest cytotoxicity. Regarding microbial activity, [TEA][Lys] demonstrated greater bactericidal effectiveness against E. coli than S. aureus, while both [TEA][Lys] and [TEA][Arg] exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect against C. albicans. Our findings underscore the crucial role of IL salt composition in determining biological activity, highlighting the significance of interactions between IL components in shaping their potential effects.

Photocurable materials offer a rapid transition from a liquid to a solid state, and have recently received great interest in the medical field. However, while dental resins are very popular, only a few materials have been developed for soft tissue repair. This study aims to synthesize a difunctional methacrylate monomer using a dibutyltin dilaurate which is suitable for the photocuring of soft materials. These soft materials were compared with PhotoBioCure^® (Szczecin, Poland) material with a similar molecular weight, of Mn ~7000 g/mol on average. Infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the two-step synthesis catalyzed with dibutyltin dilaurate, while spectroscopic and chromatographic methods were used to determine the chemical structure and molecular weight of the monomers. Photopolymerization kinetics under varying light intensities were explored in a nitrogen atmosphere for representative difunctional monomers. The mechanical testing of the resulting elastomeric films confirmed tensile strength and modulus values consistent with soft tissue parameters in the range of 3–4 MPa. The 3D printability of the macromonomers was also assessed. Additionally, cytotoxicity assessments using cultured cells showed a high cell viability (97%) for all new materials. Overall, we demonstrate that difunctional methacrylate monomers converted to flexible solids during photopolymerization show great potential for biomedical applications.

An environmentally friendly method for creating sustainable alternatives to traditional aromatic-aliphatic polyesters is a valuable step towards resource-efficiency optimization. A library of furan-based block copolymers was synthesized via temperature-varied two-step polycondensation reaction in diphenyl ether using Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) as biocatalyst where dimethyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate (DMFDCA), α,ω-aliphatic linear diols (α,ω-ALD), and bio-based dilinoleic diol (DLD) were used as the starting materials. Nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (1H and 13C NMR), Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) were used to analyze the resulting copolymers. Additionally, crystallization behavior and thermal properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), digital holographic microscopy (DHM), and differential scanning microscopy (DSC). Finally, oxygen transmission rates (OTR) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMTA) of furan-based copolyesters indicated their potential for medical packaging.

Background: Today's growing demand for advanced and sustainable polyester materials is driven by an increasing awareness of the environmental impact of traditional materials, emphasizing the need for eco-friendly alternatives. Sustainability has become central in materials development, including biomedical field, where biobased and environmentally friendly solutions are rapidly growing field. Objectives: This research aims to comprehensively evaluate new enzymatically catalyzed furan-based copolymer, poly(decamethylene furanoate)-co-(dilinoleic furanoate) (PDF-DLF), with a 70-30 wt% hard-to-soft segment ratio. The study explores its performance across medical applications, with a particular focus on its potential as nanofibrous scaffolding materials. Materials and Methods: PDF-DLF was synthesized from biobased monomers using Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) as the biocatalyst. Material characterization included dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) to assess their mechanical behavior and thermal properties. Enzymatic degradation studies determined biodegradability while cytotoxicity tests established in vitro biocompatibility. The copolymer was electrospun into nanofibers, with SEM analyzing their morphology. Results: PDF-DLF displays mechanical and thermal properties indicating high storage modulus and two main temperature transitions. Enzymatic degradation studies and cytotoxicity assessments confirm biodegradability and in vitro biocompatibility. Successful electrospinning transforms the copolymer into nanofibers with diameters ranging from 500 to 700 nm. Conclusions: This study significantly advances sustainable polyesters with versatile processing capabilities. The successful electrospinning highlights its potential as a biodegradable scaffold for medical engineering, supported by biocompatibility and sufficient mechanical properties. It opens new opportunities for sustainable materials in critical biomedical industries, including tissue engineering.

In response to mounting global concerns such as CO2 emissions, environmental pollution, and the depletion of fossil resources, the field of polymer science is shifting its focus toward sustainability. This research investigates the synthesis of poly(butylene adipate)-co-(dilinoleic adipate) (PBA-DLA) copolymers using two distinct methods: bulk polycondensation and polycondensation in diphenyl ether. The objective is to assess the environmental impact, chemical structure, composition, and key properties of the resulting copolymers, with a particular emphasis on determining the viability of bulk synthesis as a more sustainable approach. Various analytical methods, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and size exclusion chromatography (SEC), were employed to confirm successful copolymerization and highlight differences in molecular weight and microstructure. Additionally, thermal and dynamic mechanical analyses were conducted to thoroughly characterize the copolymers' properties. This research provides significant findings into the sustainable production of PBA-DLA copolymers, offering a more environmentally friendly approach without compromising product quality or performance.