Thermal and mechanical properties of PMMA were modified through lithium-salt doping, which induces ion–dipole interactions with carbonyl groups. Localized water spots are formed around the ions of the hygroscopic salts in PMMA, and their strain-driven redistribution governs the humidity-responsive ductility. This review integrates these findings with a nonequilibrium constitutive model that captures water migration during deformation, providing a framework for designing PMMA with tunable properties.

Orange-peel-derived carbon dots (OP-CDs) were synthesized via a green pyrolysis route and embedded into poly(vinyl alcohol) to fabricate transparent and flexible UV-blocking films. The PVA@OP-CD films effectively block 100% of UV-C and UV-B radiation while converting the absorbed UV light into visible fluorescence. The composite films exhibit good mechanical flexibility, antioxidant activity, and food preservation performance, demonstrating a sustainable approach for biomass-derived UV-shielding materials suitable for food packaging and protective coatings.

Chitin monoliths were developed as sustainable separation media for continuous-flow protein purification by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). FE-SEM, ATR-FTIR, and mercury intrusion porosimetry confirmed adjustable pore structures controlled by quenching temperature. The monoliths showed good permeability and selective affinity toward lysozyme, enabling efficient separation of lysozyme from ovalbumin under flow conditions. Reusability was demonstrated through multiple adsorption–desorption cycles with high recovery and negligible capacity loss, highlighting the potential of chitin monoliths for efficient and robust protein purification in continuous systems.

Hydration water can be classified into three types: free water, intermediate water, and nonfreezing water. Intermediate water was found in hydrated biopolymers and hydrated biocompatible synthetic polymers. ATR-IR spectroscopy combined with machine learning revealed the power of spectroscopic approaches to link molecular-level hydration to macroscopic polymer properties. Long-range, intermediate water-mediated repulsive forces prevent protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and overall biocompatibility under physiological conditions. This intermediate water barrier model provides a unified framework for designing biocompatible polymers.

Our article summarizes the results of recent research on the use of soft nanoparticles for delivering nucleic acids to tumor cells for RNA-based therapy. The first part of the article describes advances in the development, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using lipid nanocarriers, and the second part describes the same for polymeric nanocarriers. The third part presents data on ongoing preclinical and clinical trials of soft nanoparticles (June 2025).

Phosphatidylserine (PS)-inspired polymers with systematically varied alkyl structures and copolymer compositions were designed to elucidate their interactions with the PS receptor T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-like domain-containing protein 4 (Tim-4). Alkyl-substituted PS-inspired homopolymers and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-containing copolymers were synthesized. Biolayer interferometry revealed a nonmonotonic dependence on alkyl substitution and a composition-dependent enhancement upon HEMA incorporation. In macrophages, homopolymers did not significantly affect interleukin-6 secretion, whereas HEMA-containing copolymers selectively suppressed IL-6 production, demonstrating that rational copolymer design enables biomaterials to achieve efficient anti-inflammatory immunomodulation.

Polymers with aminodiamondoid units as side groups can be obtained either by direct polymerization of corresponding vinyl monomers or by polymer-analogous reactions. While the polymerization of octenylaminodiamondoids only leads to oligomers because of the bulky substituents, the polymer-analogous reactions of aminodiamondoids with poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) yield polymers with almost quantitative functionalization. These materials are highly attractive for biomedical applications or as template molecules for the synthesis of nanodiamonds.

The preparation and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with H5N1 antigen using the spray-drying technique is conducted. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, TEM, and zeta potential analysis to evaluate morphology, size, and surface charge. The antigen-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were subsequently assessed for safety and immunological effects in a mouse model, demonstrating their potential as a vaccine delivery system.