The topics selected for the conference are as follows:

Renewable building blocks, natural polymers, biopolymers and their composites

• Raw materials based on natural resources (triglycerides, lignin, flavonoids, etc.), their application for the synthesis of biopolymers.

• Natural polymers and their derivatives (polysaccharides, cellulose, proteins, etc.); modification, functionalization and plasticization.

• Microbial production of biopolymers, bio-based and biodegradable polymers (polyesters, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polyamides, polyolefins, etc.) as well as their blends.

• Natural fiber reinforcement (WPC, nanocellulose, etc.) and composites with biopolymer matrices; surface modification, coupling, deformation and failure mechanism.

Biomaterials for life science and health care

• Smart and functional polymers, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, reinforced hydrogels, self-healing and shape memory of hydrogels; self-assembly, nanoparticles, microparticles.

• Surfaces and interfaces: thin films, polymer brushes and membranes.

• Controlled drug and gene delivery (oral, nasal, ocular, transdermal, etc.); enzyme immobilization; bioadhesive formulations; injectable soft materials, implants.

• Scaffold fabrication, mechanics of scaffolds, cell-scaffold interactions, degradation.

• Tissue engineering, electrospinning, production and application of biofibers.

Processing, application

• Development and optimization of processing technologies for biopolymers.

• Additive manufacturing, digital design of biopolymers, 3D printing, rapid prototyping.

• Market of biopolymers, application in packaging, cosmetics, agriculture, automotive industry, electronics, optics, energy, sensors and actuators, waste water treatment, superabsorbents, wound dressings, etc.

Environmental aspects, sustainability, green polymers and composites

• Biorefineries, biomass conversion, sustainable production of monomers and polymers from wastes and side streams.

• Bioplastics, degradation, biodegradation, biodeterioration and composting.

• Recycling, waste management, environmental impact, life cycle analysis and certification.