In various exemplary embodiments described herein, an absorbent structure (e.g., a paper material) having an applied absorbent material (e.g., an absorbent film) may be formed by treating a fiber (e.g., a cellulosic fiber) with an applied absorbent material forming system (also referred to as a “film forming system”), absorbent materials, compositions, methods of making absorbent materials, and the like.