Efficient, original synthesis of poly­(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) via polycondensation of glycerine and sebacic acid was achieved. The process was successfully optimized by using the Box–Behnken design. PGS was obtained with a high conversion of the carboxylic group (89%) and a very high degree of esterification (∼82%), containing no catalysts residues. A method was developed for purification of prepolymer PGS. Because biocompatible substrates are used, this method for obtaining the polymer can be used in medical and pharmaceutical applications.

Among two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as graphene, a new family of 2D anisotropic carbides and nitrides of early transition metals (MXenes) is very interesting because of the potential applications in electronics, medicine, and photocatalysis. In this paper, preparation, morphostructural characterization, band gaps determination, and salicylic acid photodegradation ability of Ti2C MXene and six nanocomposites consisting of the MXene modified by TiO2, Ag2O, Ag, PdO, Pd, and Au are reported. It was confirmed using electron diffraction studies, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission microscopy that metals and metal oxides occur on the MXene flakes as nanoparticles in a shape of spots. The band gaps determined experimentally using Tauc’s method are placed in the region of 0.90–1.31 eV. In recent years, the method of photocatalytic decomposition of pollutants using semiconductor photocatalysts and UV–vis energy has become increasingly important. The MXene based nanocomposites revealed high activity in the salicylic acid (SA) photodegradation reaction (86.1–97.1% of degraded SA after 3 h, concentration of SA initial solution 100 μM, the circulation rate of the SA solution 0.875 cm3/min). The interfacial charge transfer mechanism and the role of the metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles in the photocatalytic activity of the MXene based nanocomposites are presented and discussed.

Two types of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) prepolymers were synthesized and electrospun with poly(l-lactic acid) (PLA), resulting in bicomponent nonwovens. The obtained materials were pre-heated in a vacuum, at different times, to crosslink PGS and investigate morphological and structural dependencies in that polymeric, electrospun system. As both PGS and PLA are sensitive to pre-heating (crosslinking) conditions, research concerns both components. More interest is focused on the properties of PGS, considering further research for mechanical properties and subsequent experiments with PGS synthesis. Electrospinning of PGS blended with PLA does not bring difficulties, but obtaining elastomeric properties of nonwovens is problematic. Even though PGS has many potential advantages over other polyesters when soft tissue engineering is considered, its full utilization via the electrospinning process is much harder in practice. Further investigations are ongoing, especially with the promising PGS prepolymer with a higher esterification degree and its variations.

This study was conducted as a first step in obtaining eco-friendly fibres for medical applications using a synthesised oligomer poly(glycerol succinate) (PGSu) as an additive for synthetic poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL). The effects of the oligomer on the structure formation, morphology, crystallisation behaviour, and mechanical properties of electrospun bicomponent fibres were investigated. Nonwovens were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical testing. The molecular structure of PLLA fibres is influenced by the presence of PGSu mainly acting as an enhancer of molecular orientation. In the case of semicrystalline PLCL, chain mobility was enhanced by the presence of PGSu molecules, and the crystallinity of bicomponent fibres increased in relation to that of pure PLCL. The mechanical properties of bicomponent fibres were influenced by the level of PGSu present and the extent of crystal formation of the main component. An in vitro study conducted using L929 cells confirmed the biocompatible character of all bicomponent fibres.

We created polyester, which building blocks naturally occur in the human organism: glycerol and succinic acid. A process of preparation of poly(glycerol succinate) resins and its purification was developed. The resins were obtained in a polycondensation reaction with the monomer being prepared in situ. Due to that, succinic anhydride and glycerol were used as reaction substrates. The obtained resins were next crosslinked toelastomers. Mathematical models described both processes for the first time in the case of poly(glycerol succinate). Such models are allowing for defining the process parameters to obtain a material with desired properties. For example, optimal conditions for resins synthesis were estimated, and requirements for yielding elastomer with Tg in range −10 to 40°C could be determined based on our second model. Such a novel approach combines science with industry needs, where knowledge of processes is key to success. Also, it has to be said that glycerol, which is a waste of biodiesel production, could be used in our process, but we recommend prior purification.