Check out the latest publications from our group!
- Bikiaris Lab
- 19 hours ago
- 4 min read
Our research group continues to advance the field of sustainable and functional polymer materials, exploring new architectures, nanocomposites, and smart delivery systems. Below you can find a list of our most recently published articles, spanning topics from biodegradable PLA copolymers and nanocomposites to photoinduced plastic degradation and pH- /thermo-responsive drug delivery.
Together, these works highlight our ongoing efforts to bridge polymer chemistry, materials engineering, and environmental sustainability through innovative design and characterization.
The review analyzes the synthesis, structure–property relationships, and applications of PLA-based copolymers, emphasizing how various copolymerization strategies and comonomers allow precise tuning of mechanical, thermal, and degradation properties. Advances in copolymer architectures have expanded PLA’s functionality, supporting its development into high-performance, sustainable biobased materials.
Why it matters:
Summarizes the development of PLA copolymers over the last decade.
Provides new insights into developing sustainable advanced materials with tailored properties.
Covers multiple applications for PLA-based copolymers.
In this latest work, our group investigated the combined physicochemical effects of UV-B irradiation on the formation of microplastics, focusing on the common polymers PVC and PMMA. The study, as part of Nina's PhD, explores how UV-B exposure accelerates polymer degradation and microplastics generation by triggering multiple processes such as photo-oxidation, structural changes, and alterations in surface properties.
Why it matters:
Provides new insight into how UV exposure drives plastic breakdown and microplastics release.
Focuses on PVC and PMMA, widely used and environmentally persistent materials, scarcely investigated in the literature.
Helps understand plastic aging and pollution, supporting better risk assessment and the design of more sustainable polymers.
This work investigates the performance of biobased PLA block copolymers by the presence of PEAz biodegradable aliphatic segments. Next to many results manifesting the successful PEAz-b-PLA copolymeric synthesis, we showed that the PEAz block acted as a plasticizer over PLA copolymers. Due to the manifested plasticization, the assumed increase in the free volume and the smaller Mn, the crystallizability of PLA was found to be suppressed in terms of fraction and nucleation. This also led to a variety of semicrystalline morphologies in terms of the size, number, distribution and interconnectivity of the crystals.
Why it matters:
Offers new insights into PLA block copolyesters based on aliphatic blocky segments towards soft materials.
Using these copolyesters, there is an opportunity for targeted structural manipulation (thermochemically mild) connected to the material’s macroscopic performance.
Provides new biobased polymeric substrates for engineering applications, like flexible printed electronics.
In the context of this work, we explored how nanofillers with distinct geometries—graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs)—affect the crystallization and molecular dynamics of bio‐based poly(butylene furanoate) (PBF). Using a combination of DSC, XRD, and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS), we examined how each filler influences nucleation, chain mobility, and relaxation behavior.
Why it matters:
Offers new insight into structure–property relationships in PBF‐based nanocomposites.
Reveals how filler geometry dictates crystallization kinetics and molecular motion.
Contributes to the development of next‐generation sustainable polymer nanocomposites with tunable performance.
In this study, a series of copolymers was synthesized using the promising biodegradable polymers Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and Poly(ethylene adipate) (PEAd), known for their high potential.The synthesized materials, along with the starting polymers, were extensively characterized for their structure, molecular weight, crystallinity, and thermal behavior.
Why it matters:
Introduces a sustainable route to enhance the flexibility and degradability of polylactide-based materials through copolymerization with poly(ethylene adipate).
Provides valuable insights into the relationship between molecular structure, crystallinity, and molecular mobility, advancing the design of next-generation biodegradable polymers.
By combining reactive melt mixing with complementary thermal and dielectric analyses, the work contributes to developing greener materials for biomedical applications.
In this research, we synthesized and characterized amphiphilic block copolymers based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), including PLA–PEG–PLA triblock and mPEG–PLA diblock copolymers, to develop injectable thermoresponsive hydrogels for the targeted and controlled delivery of deferoxamine (DFO).We investigated their sol–gel transitions near physiological temperature, polymer–drug interactions, in vitro DFO release over seven days, and drug efficacy in a cell culture model.
Why it matters:
Provides a new thermosensitive hydrogel for a highly hydrophilic drug (DFO), which typically has poor bioavailability.
Demonstrates sustained, biphasic release and confirms that DFO retains biological activity after release.
Contributes to the field of drug delivery systems by combining polymer design, stimuli-responsive behavior, and biological validation — a step toward better therapeutic strategies.
The work focuses on the development of PLA nanocomposites based on metal nanoparticles (NPs), such as silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) NPs via two different preparation methods. The techniques included melt mixing and in situ ring opening polymerization (ROP). The latter method was employed for the first time; moreover, it was found to be more effective in achieving very good NP dispersion in the polymer matrix as well as the formation of interfacial polymer–NP interactions. Stronger impact on the segmental dynamics, as well as the local relaxation, was recorded in the ROP-based systems. This is most probably connected directly to the method of synthesis and the excellent filler dispersion.
Why it matters:
New insights into the interfacial interactions between the PLA matrix and Ag NPs were provided, by the time ROP of L-lactide in the presence of Ag NPs was employed for the first time ever.
Highlights the importance of in situ polymerization.
Provides next-generation of flexible PLA nanocomposites with promising semi-conductive properties.
In this study, we developed biodegradable zwitterionic nanoparticles designed to deliver anticancer drugs selectively to tumors through pH-responsive release and biocompatible behavior. A series of PLA/PEAd copolymers grafted with sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) was synthesized via a combined ROP–ATRP strategy. The materials exhibited tunable molecular weights, enhanced hydrophilicity, and controlled degradation. The resulting paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles displayed strongly pH-dependent release, and maintained excellent hemocompatibility. Cytotoxicity studies confirmed potent activity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells with limited toxicity toward healthy fibroblasts, particularly for PEAd-rich formulations.
Why it matters:
Introduces a new zwitterionic nanocarrier platform combining tumor pH-responsiveness, stealth behavior, and biodegradability.
Demonstrates composition-dependent control of degradation, hydrophilicity, and drug release through molecular design.
Provides a promising alternative to PEGylated systems, advancing the development of safer and more selective polymeric nanoparticles for cancer chemotherapy.
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