The problem of excessive use of pesticides has always been a concern for environmental scientists. Although awareness about organic farming is increasing, farmers still need to use pesticides to achieve good yields under many environmental constraints. However, most pesticides have only less percentage effects after use (such as herbicide to kill the weeds), and most pesticides eventually became the waste, entering the soil, rivers, and even the ocean, causing potential environmental pollution.

We have successfully synthesized a stable coordination polymer compound 1 formed by environmentally friendly metal ions and pesticide molecules. We investigate the effect of this compound on sustained release to reduce the use of pesticides while achieving a long-lasting effect. Compound 1 could be obtained via the reaction by using the generally available pesticide as the reagent. We successfully synthesized several coordination polymer compounds containing phosphonate herbicide as the ligand, and investigate their slow-release effects.
We also explore using polymer compounds to carry pesticides, and adjust their sustained-release conditions. We believe these research results can help to reduce the pesticides and extend their shelf life through the application of polymers in agricultural science.

We introduce advanced polymeric materials for integration into electrochemical biosensors capable of real-time detection of inflammation and infection. The sensors utilize potentiometric responses to key biomarkers, including pH changes (1-3), reactive oxygen species (ROS) (4), and free calcium ions, to differentiate between bacterial and sterile inflammatory conditions. The design incorporates a conductive polymer-based sensing layer, namely hydrophobic perfluorinated polyaniline layer for pH sensing, a polytetrathienylporphyrine complex for ROS detection, and a BAPTA chelator-based calcium-sensitive layer. The sensing layers are protected by a non-biofouling poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) coating. These materials enable in vitro monitoring of inflammation-related analytes in body fluids, such as synovial liquid, during surgical procedures. The developed biosensors exhibit rapid, selective, and stable responses in biological environments, minimizing interference from proteins and other ions. This technology represents a significant advancement in the early and accurate detection of inflammation-related complications in orthopedic implants, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing the risks associated with post-surgical infections.
Financial support from MEYS CR (grants # LUAUS24272 and LUAUS24203) and the project to the project New Technologies for Trans-lational Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences /NETPHARM, project ID CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004607, co-funded by the European Union, is gratefully acknowledged.

Novel, multifunctional nanoparticles and hydrogels that exhibit a unique set of properties for the effective treatment of several diseases are presented. The materials are comprised of polypeptidic and conventional biopolymers. The amphiphilic hybrid materials assemble in aqueous media to form micelles or vesicles. Dynamic light scattering, static light scattering, and Transmission Electron Microscopy were utilized to obtain the structure of the nanoparticles. Moreover, the pH- and redox-responsiveness of the nanocarriers was investigated at the empty as well as the loaded nanoparticles. Circular Dichroism examined the ability of the synthesized polymers to mimic natural proteins, while the study of zeta potential revealed the “stealth” properties of nanoparticles. The anticancer and other drugs were efficiently encapsulated in the hydrophobic core of the nanostructures. Finally, in vivo efficacy studies of the loaded NPs against cancer, cardiovascular, kidney, and other diseases showed that the nanocarriers exhibited better activity as compared to the free drug, rendering these novel nanoparticles very promising materials for drug delivery applications.
Hybrid-polypeptidic materials formed injectable in situ forming self-healing hydrogels, quickly responsive to pH and temperature. The connection between the alteration of the secondary structure of the polypeptides with the viscoelastic behavior was revealed using Rheology and Circular Dichroism. Small-angle neutron Scattering and Scanning Electron Microscopy were employed to shed light on the structure of the polymers and how it affects their rheological properties. The results suggest that these biomaterials have the potential to be used in several biological applications.

Hydrogels are three-dimensional materials that play a critical role in retaining fluids and supporting tissue regeneration, particularly in scaffold applications. Protein-rich biomass residues, such as keratin from chicken feathers and sericin from Bombyx mori cocoon, offer valuable raw materials for protein-based hydrogels due to their biocompatibility, cell proliferation support, and minimal immune rejection. However, protein-based hydrogels often face challenges related to mechanical strength and degradation. To address these issues, we employed cellulose nanofibers (CNF) to reinforce keratin-sericin hydrogels. Keratin was extracted using the mercaptoethanol reduction method, while sericin was isolated through the degumming process. The addition of CNF facilitated the formation of an interconnected porous structure and provided physical support. Glutaraldehyde (GTA) acted as a crosslinker, stabilizing the hydrogel through covalent bonds with amine functional groups. It resulted in a fourfold increase in compressive strength compared to the control without CNF while only showing a 16% mass loss after seven days of incubation. Integrating keratin-sericin with CNF further enhanced hydrogel durability, highlighting its potential for biomedical applications.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe trauma to the spinal cord that leads to partial or complete disruption of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Currently, there is no cure for SCI; the primary treatment for acute cases focuses on stabilizing the spinal column post-injury to minimize the inflammatory response. A potential therapeutic approach involves the use of biocompatible, conductive, and non-degradable materials capable of reconnecting the spinal cord and restoring lost functions. Particularly, polymeric scaffolds emerge as promising candidates since they exhibit excellent biomimetic properties for soft tissue applications. It is important to name that electrical conductivity plays a crucial role in SCI treatment, as neuronal cells are electroactive and rely on electrical impulses (synaptic currents) for communication and function. With this purpose, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the most promising materials for interfacing with electrically active tissues, including neurons and cardiac tissues, due to their exceptional conductivity and biocompatibility. Here, we report the synthesis via photopolymerization, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of 3D scaffolds based on a deep eutectic monomer (DEM) composed of acrylic acid (AA) and choline dihydrogen citrate (CDC) at two different ratios (AA:CDC 4:1 and 3:1). These gels were crosslinked with polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) and incorporated varying amounts of CNTs. The effects of electrical and ionic conductivity—conferred by CNTs and choline dihydrogen citrate, respectively—were analyzed, along with pore size and Young’s modulus, in the SH-SY5Y cell line (Figure 1).

Natural polymer-based hybrid hydrogels have garnered significant attention in biomedical applications due to their high water content, tunable mechanical properties, and biodegradability. These characteristics make them suitable candidates for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, their inherently weak mechanical properties pose a critical challenge when applied as scaffolds or substitutes for bone tissue regeneration, which requires sufficient mechanical stability to support cell proliferation and tissue growth. To overcome this limitation, we incorporated alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) into the polymer matrix to reinforce the mechanical strength of the hydrogel while maintaining its biocompatibility and structural integrity.
Following cementation, the compressive modulus of the hybrid hydrogel increased significantly, demonstrating improved mechanical performance while retaining the elastic and porous nature characteristic of conventional hydrogel structures. This enhanced mechanical stability is essential for providing a supportive microenvironment for osteogenic cell differentiation and tissue regeneration. Furthermore, the hybrid hydrogels exhibit excellent printability, making them promising candidates for 3D bioprinting applications in bone tissue engineering.
Overall, these findings suggest that α-TCP-reinforced hybrid hydrogels hold great potential as advanced biomaterials for bone regeneration, offering a versatile platform for scaffold fabrication and bioink development in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Further studies will focus on optimizing their bioactivity and in vivo performance.

Biomimetic hydrogels replicate the dynamic mechanics of biological networks by integrating multicomponent architectures that exhibit adaptive interactions and time-dependent relaxation, closely mirroring the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix in living systems.1 These hydrogels have significantly advanced tissue engineering by providing biocompatible scaffolds that promote cell adhesion and migration while supporting tissue growth and regeneration, ultimately enhancing the functionality and integration of engineered tissues.2 While significant progress has been made in mammalian cell culture using biomimetic hydrogels, their application in plant cell culture remains underexplored. This is due to the unique challenges presented by plant cells, such as their rigid cell walls, which necessitate scaffolds capable of withstanding higher mechanical stresses and facilitating cell viability and regeneration.3, 4
We investigate polysaccharide-based, dual-crosslinked hydrogels reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals, designed to mimic the primary cell walls of higher plants. These hydrogels serve as an in vitro 3D encapsulation model for protoplasts derived from Arabidopsis thaliana. By tuning gelation conditions within physiologically relevant ranges, we show that both the network architecture and water content of the resulting hydrogels are tunable, enabling fine control over mechanical properties such as stiffness and stress relaxation. This tunability provides a versatile strategy to optimize matrix stiffness and viscoelasticity for fabricating cell-laden hydrogel constructs to promote cell viability and facilitate cell wall regeneration. Our biomimetic hydrogels can be promising candidates for protoplast encapsulation, offering a novel in vitro model to investigate the role of mechanical and biochemical cues in plant development and morphogenesis.5