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International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2022Hydrogels from biopolymers are readily synthesized, can possess various characteristics for different applications, and have been widely used in biomedicine to help with... (Review)
Review
Hydrogels from biopolymers are readily synthesized, can possess various characteristics for different applications, and have been widely used in biomedicine to help with patient treatments and outcomes. Polysaccharides, polypeptides, and nucleic acids can be produced into hydrogels, each for unique purposes depending on their qualities. Examples of polypeptide hydrogels include collagen, gelatin, and elastin, and polysaccharide hydrogels include alginate, cellulose, and glycosaminoglycan. Many different theories have been formulated to research hydrogels, which include Flory-Rehner theory, Rubber Elasticity Theory, and the calculation of porosity and pore size. All these theories take into consideration enthalpy, entropy, and other thermodynamic variables so that the structure and pore sizes of hydrogels can be formulated. Hydrogels can be fabricated in a straightforward process using a homogeneous mixture of different chemicals, depending on the intended purpose of the gel. Different types of hydrogels exist which include pH-sensitive gels, thermogels, electro-sensitive gels, and light-sensitive gels and each has its unique biomedical applications including structural capabilities, regenerative repair, or drug delivery. Major biopolymer-based hydrogels used for cell delivery include encapsulated skeletal muscle cells, osteochondral muscle cells, and stem cells being delivered to desired locations for tissue regeneration. Some examples of hydrogels used for drug and biomolecule delivery include insulin encapsulated hydrogels and hydrogels that encompass cancer drugs for desired controlled release. This review summarizes these newly developed biopolymer-based hydrogel materials that have been mainly made since 2015 and have shown to work and present more avenues for advanced medical applications.
Topics: Alginates; Biocompatible Materials; Biopolymers; Gelatin; Humans; Hydrogels; Polysaccharides; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 35163339
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031415 -
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in... May 2017Methyltransferases (MTases) form a large family of enzymes that methylate a diverse set of targets, ranging from the three major biopolymers to small molecules. Most of... (Review)
Review
Methyltransferases (MTases) form a large family of enzymes that methylate a diverse set of targets, ranging from the three major biopolymers to small molecules. Most of these MTases use the cofactor S-adenosyl-l-Methionine (AdoMet) as a methyl source. In recent years, there have been significant efforts toward the development of AdoMet analogues with the aim of transferring moieties other than simple methyl groups. Two major classes of AdoMet analogues currently exist: doubly-activated molecules and aziridine based molecules, each of which employs a different approach to achieve transalkylation rather than transmethylation. In this review, we discuss the various strategies for labelling and functionalizing biomolecules using AdoMet-dependent MTases and AdoMet analogues. We cover the synthetic routes to AdoMet analogues, their stability in biological environments and their application in transalkylation reactions. Finally, some perspectives are presented for the potential use of AdoMet analogues in biology research, (epi)genetics and nanotechnology.
Topics: Biopolymers; Methyltransferases; Small Molecule Libraries
PubMed: 27943567
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201608625 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2022Chitosan, a naturally abundant cationic polymer, is chemically composed of cellulose-based biopolymers derived by deacetylating chitin. It offers several attractive... (Review)
Review
Chitosan, a naturally abundant cationic polymer, is chemically composed of cellulose-based biopolymers derived by deacetylating chitin. It offers several attractive characteristics such as renewability, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity towards gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi, etc., because of which it is receiving immense attention as a biopolymer for a plethora of applications including drug delivery, protective coating materials, food packaging films, wastewater treatment, and so on. Additionally, its structure carries reactive functional groups that enable several reactions and electrochemical interactions at the biomolecular level and improves the chitosan's physicochemical properties and functionality. This review article highlights the extensive research about the properties, extraction techniques, and recent developments of chitosan-based composites for drug, gene, protein, and vaccine delivery applications. Its versatile applications in tissue engineering and wound healing are also discussed. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives for chitosan in biomedical applications are elucidated.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biopolymers; Cellulose; Chitin; Chitosan; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Gram-Positive Bacteria; Vaccines
PubMed: 36142887
DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810975 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2020The concept of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture has been proposed to maintain cellular morphology and function as in vivo. Among different approaches for 3D cell... (Review)
Review
The concept of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture has been proposed to maintain cellular morphology and function as in vivo. Among different approaches for 3D cell culture, microcarrier technology provides a promising tool for cell adhesion, proliferation, and cellular interactions in 3D space mimicking the in vivo microenvironment. In particular, microcarriers based on biopolymers have been widely investigated because of their superior biocompatibility and biodegradability. Moreover, through bottom-up assembly, microcarriers have opened a bright door for fabricating engineered tissues, which is one of the cutting-edge topics in tissue engineering and regeneration medicine. This review takes an in-depth look into the recent advancements of microcarriers based on biopolymers-especially polysaccharides such as chitosan, chitin, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, alginate, and laminarin-for 3D cell culture and the fabrication of engineered tissues based on them. The current limitations and potential strategies were also discussed to shed some light on future directions.
Topics: Biopolymers; Cell Adhesion; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Humans; Microtechnology; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 32164316
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051895 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2023Biopolymeric nanoparticles are gaining importance as nanocarriers for various biomedical applications, enabling long-term and controlled release at the target site.... (Review)
Review
Biopolymeric nanoparticles are gaining importance as nanocarriers for various biomedical applications, enabling long-term and controlled release at the target site. Since they are promising delivery systems for various therapeutic agents and offer advantageous properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and stability compared to various toxic metal nanoparticles, we decided to provide an overview on this topic. Therefore, the review focuses on the use of biopolymeric nanoparticles of animal, plant, algal, fungal, and bacterial origin as a sustainable material for potential use as drug delivery systems. A particular focus is on the encapsulation of many different therapeutic agents categorized as bioactive compounds, drugs, antibiotics, and other antimicrobial agents, extracts, and essential oils into protein- and polysaccharide-based nanocarriers. These show promising benefits for human health, especially for successful antimicrobial and anticancer activity. The review article, divided into protein-based and polysaccharide-based biopolymeric nanoparticles and further according to the origin of the biopolymer, enables the reader to select the appropriate biopolymeric nanoparticles more easily for the incorporation of the desired component. The latest research results from the last five years in the field of the successful production of biopolymeric nanoparticles loaded with various therapeutic agents for healthcare applications are included in this review.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Drug Delivery Systems; Nanoparticles; Biopolymers; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Anti-Infective Agents; Metal Nanoparticles; Delivery of Health Care
PubMed: 36834596
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043188 -
Trends in Biotechnology May 2021Traditional hydrogels are strong candidates for biomedical applications; however, they may suffer from drawbacks such as weak mechanics, static properties, and an... (Review)
Review
Traditional hydrogels are strong candidates for biomedical applications; however, they may suffer from drawbacks such as weak mechanics, static properties, and an inability to fully replicate aspects of the cellular microenvironment. These challenges can be addressed through the incorporation of second networks to form interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels. The objective of this review is to establish clear trends on the enhanced functionality achieved by incorporating secondary networks into traditional, biopolymer-based hydrogels. These include mechanical reinforcement, 'smart' systems that respond to external stimuli, and the ability to tune cell-material interactions. Through attention to network structure and chemistry, IPN hydrogels may advance to meet challenging criteria for a wide range of biomedical fields.
Topics: Biomedical Technology; Biopolymers; Hydrogels
PubMed: 32950262
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.08.007 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2019The development of cell culture systems for the naturalistic propagation, self-renewal and differentiation of cells ex vivo is a high goal of molecular engineering.... (Review)
Review
The development of cell culture systems for the naturalistic propagation, self-renewal and differentiation of cells ex vivo is a high goal of molecular engineering. Despite significant success in recent years, the high cost of up-scaling cultures, the need for xeno-free culture conditions, and the degree of mimicry of the natural extracellular matrix attainable in vitro using designer substrates continue to pose obstacles to the translation of cell-based technologies. In this regard, the ZT biopolymer is a protein-based, stable, scalable, and economical cell substrate of high promise. ZT is based on the naturally occurring assembly of two human proteins: titin-Z1Z2 and telethonin. These protein building blocks are robust scaffolds that can be conveniently functionalized with full-length proteins and bioactive peptidic motifs by genetic manipulation, prior to self-assembly. The polymer is, thereby, fully encodable. Functionalized versions of the ZT polymer have been shown to successfully sustain the long-term culturing of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), and murine mesenchymal stromal cells (mMSCs). Pluripotency of hESCs and hiPSCs was retained for the longest period assayed (4 months). Results point to the large potential of the ZT system for the creation of a modular, pluri-functional biomaterial for cell-based applications.
Topics: Animals; Biopolymers; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Differentiation; Embryonic Stem Cells; Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Mice; Pluripotent Stem Cells
PubMed: 31484291
DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174299 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2021Bacterial cellulose (BC) is recognized as a multifaceted, versatile biomaterial with abundant applications. Groups of microorganisms such as bacteria are accountable for... (Review)
Review
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is recognized as a multifaceted, versatile biomaterial with abundant applications. Groups of microorganisms such as bacteria are accountable for BC synthesis through static or agitated fermentation processes in the presence of competent media. In comparison to static cultivation, agitated cultivation provides the maximum yield of the BC. A pure cellulose BC can positively interact with hydrophilic or hydrophobic biopolymers while being used in the biomedical domain. From the last two decades, the reinforcement of biopolymer-based biocomposites and its applicability with BC have increased in the research field. The harmony of hydrophobic biopolymers can be reduced due to the high moisture content of BC in comparison to hydrophilic biopolymers. Mechanical properties are the important parameters not only in producing green composite but also in dealing with tissue engineering, medical implants, and biofilm. The wide requisition of BC in medical as well as industrial fields has warranted the scaling up of the production of BC with added economy. This review provides a detailed overview of the production and properties of BC and several parameters affecting the production of BC and its biocomposites, elucidating their antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy with an insight to highlight their therapeutic potential.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Biopolymers; Cellulose; Escherichia coli; Gluconacetobacter xylinus; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Nanocomposites; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 34884787
DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312984 -
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews.... Jul 2019Sugar-based biopolymers have been recognized as attractive materials to develop macromolecule- and nanoparticle-based cancer imaging and therapy. However, traditional... (Review)
Review
Sugar-based biopolymers have been recognized as attractive materials to develop macromolecule- and nanoparticle-based cancer imaging and therapy. However, traditional biopolymer-based imaging approaches rely on the use of synthetic or isotopic labeling, and because of it, clinical translation often is hindered. Recently, a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST), has emerged, which allows the exploitation of sugar-based biopolymers as MRI agents by their hydroxyl protons-rich nature. In the study, we reviewed recent studies on the topic of CEST MRI detection of sugar-based biopolymers. The CEST MRI property of each biopolymer was briefly introduced, followed by the pre-clinical and clinical applications. The findings of these preliminary studies imply the enormous potential of CEST detectable sugar-based biopolymers in developing highly sensitive and translatable molecular imaging agents and constructing image-guided biopolymer-based drug delivery systems. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > in vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies.
Topics: Biopolymers; Contrast Media; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Molecular Imaging; Sugars
PubMed: 30666829
DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1551 -
Biomolecules Jan 2022Chitosan is a biopolymer that is found in nature and is produced from chitin deacetylation. Chitosan has been studied thoroughly for multiple applications with an... (Review)
Review
Chitosan is a biopolymer that is found in nature and is produced from chitin deacetylation. Chitosan has been studied thoroughly for multiple applications with an interdisciplinary approach. Antifungal antibacterial activities, mucoadhesion, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility are some of the unique characteristics of chitosan-based biomaterials. Moreover, chitosan is the only widely-used natural polysaccharide, and it is possible to chemically modify it for different applications and functions. In various fields, chitosan composite and compound manufacturing has acquired much interest in developing several promising products. Chitosan and its derivatives have gained attention universally in biomedical and pharmaceutical industries as a result of their desired characteristics. In the present mini-review, novel methods for preparing chitosan-containing materials for dental and implant engineering applications along with challenges and future perspectives are discussed.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Biopolymers; Chitin; Chitosan; Dentistry; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 35204654
DOI: 10.3390/biom12020155