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ACS Applied Bio Materials Oct 2023Applications of nanotechnology have increased the importance of research and nanocarriers, which have revolutionized the method of drug delivery to treat several... (Review)
Review
Applications of nanotechnology have increased the importance of research and nanocarriers, which have revolutionized the method of drug delivery to treat several diseases, including cancer, in the past few years. Cancer, one of the world's fatal diseases, has drawn scientists' attention for its multidrug resistance to various chemotherapeutic drugs. To minimize the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents on healthy cells and to develop technological advancement in drug delivery systems, scientists have developed an alternative approach to delivering chemotherapeutic drugs at the targeted site by integrating it inside the nanocarriers like synthetic polymers, nanotubes, micelles, dendrimers, magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), lipid nanoparticles, nano-biopolymeric substances, etc., which has shown promising results in both preclinical and clinical trials of cancer management. Besides that, nanocarriers, especially biopolymeric nanoparticles, have received much attention from researchers due to their cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, treatment efficacy, and ability to target drug delivery by crossing the blood-brain barrier. This review emphasizes the fabrication processes, the therapeutic and theragnostic applications, and the importance of different biopolymeric nanocarriers in targeting cancer both and , which conclude with the challenges and opportunities of future exploration using biopolymeric nanocarriers in onco-therapy with improved availability and reduced toxicity.
Topics: Humans; Precision Medicine; Neoplasms; Drug Delivery Systems; Nanotechnology; Biopolymers
PubMed: 37699558
DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00458 -
Advances in Colloid and Interface... Jun 2022Polymeric materials play a vital role in our daily life, but the growing concern for the environment demands economical and natural biopolymers that can be cross-linked... (Review)
Review
Polymeric materials play a vital role in our daily life, but the growing concern for the environment demands economical and natural biopolymers that can be cross-linked to create technologically innovative lightweight materials. Their cellular matrix with extreme flexibility makes them highly acceptable for application prospects in material science, engineering, and biomedical applications. Furthermore, their biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and structural diversity provide a gateway to research them to form technologically important materials. In the light of the same, the review covers cellulose derivatives. The first section of the study covers the general properties and applications of cellulose and its derivatives. Then, the biopolymers are characterised based on their dielectric properties, crystallinity, rheology, and mechanical properties. An in-depth analysis of the diffuse process of swelling and dissolution followed by a brief discussion on diffusion and diffusion of crosslinking has been done. The review also covers a section on swelling and swelling kinetics of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). The examination of all the aforementioned parameters gives an insight into the future aspects of the biopolymers. Lastly, the study briefly covers some preferred choices of cross-linking agents and their effect on the biopolymers.
Topics: Biopolymers; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Cellulose; Hydrogels; Rheology
PubMed: 35483124
DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102681 -
Journal of Advanced Research Feb 2023With rapid development in agriculture and industry, water polluted with heavy metallic ions has come to be a serious problem. Adsorption-based methods are simple,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
With rapid development in agriculture and industry, water polluted with heavy metallic ions has come to be a serious problem. Adsorption-based methods are simple, efficient, and broadly used to eliminate heavy metals. Conventional adsorption materials have the problems of secondary environmental contamination. Hydrogels are considered effective adsorbents, and those prepared from biopolymers are biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, safe to handle, and increasingly used to adsorb heavy metal ions.
AIM OF REVIEW
The natural origin and easy degradability of biopolymer hydrogels make them potential for development in environmental remediation. Its water absorption capacity enables it to efficiently adsorb various pollutants in the aqueous environment, and its internal pore channels increase the specific surface area for adsorption, which can provide abundant active binding sites for heavy metal ions through chemical modification.
KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPT OF REVIEW
As the most representative of biopolymer hydrogels, polysaccharide-based hydrogels are diverse, physically and chemically stable, and can undergo complex chemical modifications to enhance their performance, thus exhibiting superior ability to remove contaminants. This review summarizes the preparation methods of hydrogels, followed by a discussion of the main categories and applications of polysaccharide-based biopolymer hydrogels.
Topics: Adsorption; Hydrogels; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Metals, Heavy; Biopolymers; Polysaccharides; Ions; Water
PubMed: 36725194
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2022.04.005 -
Journal of Materials Science. Materials... May 2020Hydrogels are cross-linked networks of macromolecular compounds characterized by high water absorption capacity. Such materials find a wide range of biomedical... (Review)
Review
Hydrogels are cross-linked networks of macromolecular compounds characterized by high water absorption capacity. Such materials find a wide range of biomedical applications. Several polymeric hydrogels can also be used in cosmetics. Herein, the structure, properties and selected applications of hydrogels in cosmetics are discussed in general. Detailed examples from scientific literature are also shown. In this review paper, most common biopolymers used in cosmetics are presented in detail together with issues related to skin treatment and hair conditioning. Hydrogels based on collagen, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and other polysaccharides have been characterized. New trends in the preparation of hydrogels based on biopolymer blends as well as bigels have been shown. Moreover, biopolymer hydrogels employment in encapsulation has been mentioned.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Biopolymers; Cosmetics; Humans; Hydrogels; Molecular Structure
PubMed: 32451785
DOI: 10.1007/s10856-020-06390-w -
Carbohydrate Polymers Jan 2021Seaweed is a prominent source of polysaccharides with extraction processes properly established, allowing to employ them in several areas. Among all the types of... (Review)
Review
Seaweed is a prominent source of polysaccharides with extraction processes properly established, allowing to employ them in several areas. Among all the types of biopolymers obtained from seaweed, furcellaran has gained notoriety in recent years. This is due to its abundance, water solubility and outstanding film-forming abilities. Despite still being little studied, in several works, remarkable advances in terms of improving properties of furcellaran-based films have been described in the literature. However, there are still numerous research opportunities to be explored regarding the improvement of material properties. Therefore, the objective of this review is to highlight the innovative method in preparation, characterization and performance of furcellaran-based films as food packaging. This is the first study in which current results in the area are presented. Initially, it concerns biopolymer chemical and extraction insights. In addition, a comprehensive description of the advances in film properties is outlined (from mechanical to active/intelligent responses). Ultimately, challenges and future prospects are also discussed.
Topics: Alginates; Anti-Infective Agents; Antioxidants; Bacteria; Edible Films; Food Packaging; Mechanical Phenomena; Plant Gums
PubMed: 33183647
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117221 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2022The rotifer-specific exogenic biopolymer, named Rotimer and its related molecular processes are affected by physical and chemical factors (e.g., temperature, pH or metal...
The rotifer-specific exogenic biopolymer, named Rotimer and its related molecular processes are affected by physical and chemical factors (e.g., temperature, pH or metal ions); however, the study of biological influences (e.g., the presence protozoa) concerning the particle-dependent reproduction (egg laying) and 'biopolymer producing capacity' (BPC) of rotifers is the objective of the present work. Non-planktonic rotifer species (Philodina acuticornis, Adineta vaga, Euchlanis dilatata, and Lecane bulla) were studied in paired micrometazoa-protozoa co-cultures involving Paramecium, Diplonema, and Amoeba. These protozoa can be beneficial food sources, enhancing reproduction, or even toxic factors for the above-mentioned animals, but can also function as particle-like mechanical stimulators. Furthermore, current studies reveal that bdelloids, similarly to monogonants, produce filamentous exudate; moreover, the body of bdelloids is covered by their exudate, unlike that of monogonants, especially in the case of A. vaga. A mathematical formula was developed as an improved version of a previously published viability marker to characterize the BPC and the relative amount of produced exudate in different conditions. Rotifer species secreting biopolymers appear to be a general trait indicating a common evolutionary background (e.g., calcium- and particle dependency) of such molecules; therefore, the BPC becomes an experiential sublethal influencing marker to these micrometazoans.
Topics: Animals; Biological Evolution; Biopolymers; Coculture Techniques; Reproduction; Rotifera
PubMed: 35588974
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.05.020 -
Microbiological Research Nov 2016Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are polyesters accumulated as carbon and energy storage materials under limited growth conditions in the presence of excess carbon... (Review)
Review
Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are polyesters accumulated as carbon and energy storage materials under limited growth conditions in the presence of excess carbon sources. They have been developed as biomaterials with unique properties for the past many years being considered as a potential substitute for conventional non-degradable plastics. Due to the increasing concern towards global climate change, depleting petroleum resource and problems with an utilization of a growing number of synthetic plastics, PHAs have gained much more attention from industry and research. These environmentally friendly microbial polymers have great potential in biomedical, agricultural, and industrial applications. However, their production on a large scale is still limited. This paper describes the backgrounds of PHAs and discussed the current state of knowledge on the polyhydroxyalkanoates. Ability of bacteria to convert different carbon sources to PHAs, the opportunities and challenges of their introduction to global market as valuable renewable products have been also discussed.
Topics: Bacteria; Biocompatible Materials; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biopolymers; Biosynthetic Pathways; Biotechnology; Fermentation; Polyesters; Polyhydroxyalkanoates
PubMed: 27664746
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2016.07.010 -
International Wound Journal Dec 2017Chitin and chitosan are biopolymers with excellent bioactive properties, such as biodegradability, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, haemostatic activity and antimicrobial... (Review)
Review
Chitin and chitosan are biopolymers with excellent bioactive properties, such as biodegradability, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, haemostatic activity and antimicrobial activity. A wide variety of biomedical applications for chitin and chitin derivatives have been reported, including wound-healing applications. They are reported to promote rapid dermal regeneration and accelerate wound healing. A number of dressing materials based on chitin and chitosan have been developed for the treatment of wounds. Chitin and chitosan with beneficial intrinsic properties and high potential for wound healing are attractive biopolymers for wound management. This review presents an overview of properties, biomedical applications and the role of these biopolymers in wound care.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bandages, Hydrocolloid; Biopolymers; Chitin; Chitosan; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Wound Healing; Wounds and Injuries
PubMed: 28799228
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.12797 -
Nature Methods Jul 2013Visually organize complex data by mapping them onto familiar representations of biological systems.
Visually organize complex data by mapping them onto familiar representations of biological systems.
Topics: Biopolymers; Computer Graphics; Models, Biological; Models, Chemical
PubMed: 23967480
DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.2531 -
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in... Nov 2017SUMMARYThe cytoskeleton is the major mechanical structure of the cell; it is a complex, dynamic biopolymer network comprising microtubules, actin, and intermediate... (Review)
Review
SUMMARYThe cytoskeleton is the major mechanical structure of the cell; it is a complex, dynamic biopolymer network comprising microtubules, actin, and intermediate filaments. Both the individual filaments and the entire network are not simple elastic solids but are instead highly nonlinear structures. Appreciating the mechanics of biopolymer networks is key to understanding the mechanics of cells. Here, we review the mechanical properties of cytoskeletal polymers and discuss the implications for the behavior of cells.
Topics: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biopolymers; Cells; Cytoskeleton; Humans; Intermediate Filaments; Microtubules
PubMed: 29092896
DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a022038