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Nature Materials Mar 2016Natural extracellular matrices (ECMs) are viscoelastic and exhibit stress relaxation. However, hydrogels used as synthetic ECMs for three-dimensional (3D) culture are...
Natural extracellular matrices (ECMs) are viscoelastic and exhibit stress relaxation. However, hydrogels used as synthetic ECMs for three-dimensional (3D) culture are typically elastic. Here, we report a materials approach to tune the rate of stress relaxation of hydrogels for 3D culture, independently of the hydrogel's initial elastic modulus, degradation, and cell-adhesion-ligand density. We find that cell spreading, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are all enhanced in cells cultured in gels with faster relaxation. Strikingly, MSCs form a mineralized, collagen-1-rich matrix similar to bone in rapidly relaxing hydrogels with an initial elastic modulus of 17 kPa. We also show that the effects of stress relaxation are mediated by adhesion-ligand binding, actomyosin contractility and mechanical clustering of adhesion ligands. Our findings highlight stress relaxation as a key characteristic of cell-ECM interactions and as an important design parameter of biomaterials for cell culture.
Topics: Alginates; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Differentiation; Extracellular Matrix; Glucuronic Acid; Hexuronic Acids; Humans; Hydrogels; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Stress, Mechanical
PubMed: 26618884
DOI: 10.1038/nmat4489 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2023Microbial production of hyaluronic acid (HA) is an area of research that has been gaining attention in recent years due to the increasing demand for this biopolymer for... (Review)
Review
Microbial production of hyaluronic acid (HA) is an area of research that has been gaining attention in recent years due to the increasing demand for this biopolymer for several industrial applications. Hyaluronic acid is a linear, non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan that is widely distributed in nature and is mainly composed of repeating units of N-acetylglucosamine and glucuronic acid. It has a wide and unique range of properties such as viscoelasticity, lubrication, and hydration, which makes it an attractive material for several industrial applications such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. This review presents and discusses the available fermentation strategies to produce hyaluronic acid.
Topics: Hyaluronic Acid; Fermentation; Chemical Phenomena; Acetylglucosamine; Glucuronic Acid
PubMed: 36903332
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28052084 -
Marine Drugs Sep 2022Alginate is an acidic polysaccharide mainly extracted from kelp or sargassum, which comprises 40% of the dry weight of algae. It is a linear polymer consisting of... (Review)
Review
Alginate is an acidic polysaccharide mainly extracted from kelp or sargassum, which comprises 40% of the dry weight of algae. It is a linear polymer consisting of β-D-mannuronic acid (M) and α-L-guluronic acid (G) with 1,4-glycosidic linkages, possessing various applications in the food and nutraceutical industries due to its unique physicochemical properties and health benefits. Additionally, alginate is able to form a gel matrix in the presence of Ca ions. Alginate properties also affect its gelation, including its structure and experimental conditions such as pH, temperature, crosslinker concentration, residence time and ionic strength. These features of this polysaccharide have been widely used in the food industry, including in food gels, controlled-release systems and film packaging. This review comprehensively covers the analysis of alginate and discussed the potential applications of alginate in the food industry and nutraceuticals.
Topics: Alginates; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dietary Supplements; Gels; Glucuronic Acid; Hexuronic Acids; Ions; Polymers
PubMed: 36135753
DOI: 10.3390/md20090564 -
Viruses Aug 2021Lassa fever virus (LASV) can cause life-threatening hemorrhagic fevers for which there are currently no vaccines or targeted treatments. The late Prof. Stefan Kunz,... (Review)
Review
Lassa fever virus (LASV) can cause life-threatening hemorrhagic fevers for which there are currently no vaccines or targeted treatments. The late Prof. Stefan Kunz, along with others, showed that the high-affinity host receptor for LASV, and other Old World and clade-C New World mammarenaviruses, is matriglycan-a linear repeating disaccharide of alternating xylose and glucuronic acid that is polymerized uniquely on α-dystroglycan by like-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-1 (LARGE1). Although α-dystroglycan is ubiquitously expressed, LASV preferentially infects vascular endothelia and professional phagocytic cells, which suggests that viral entry requires additional cell-specific factors. In this review, we highlight the work of Stefan Kunz detailing the molecular mechanism of LASV binding and discuss the requirements of receptors, such as tyrosine kinases, for internalization through apoptotic mimicry.
Topics: Animals; Dystroglycans; Glucuronic Acid; Humans; Lassa Fever; Lassa virus; Mice; Polymers; Receptors, Virus; Virus Attachment; Virus Internalization; Xylose
PubMed: 34578260
DOI: 10.3390/v13091679 -
The Journal of Organic Chemistry Aug 2023Reported herein is a scalable chemical synthesis of disaccharide building blocks for heparan sulfate (HS) oligosaccharide assembly. The use of d-glucuronate-based...
Reported herein is a scalable chemical synthesis of disaccharide building blocks for heparan sulfate (HS) oligosaccharide assembly. The use of d-glucuronate-based acceptors for dehydrative glycosylation with d-glucosamine partners is explored, enabling diastereoselective synthesis of appropriately protected HS disaccharide building blocks (d-GlcN-α-1,4-d-GlcA) on a multigram scale. Isolation and characterization of key donor (1,2 glycal)- and acceptor (ortho-ester, anhydro)-derived side products ensure methodology improvements to reduce their formation; protecting the d-glucuronate acceptor at the anomeric position with a -methoxyphenyl unit proves optimal. We also introduce glycal uronate acceptors, showing them to be comparative in reactivity to their pyranuronate counterparts. Taken together, this gram-scale access offers the capability to explore the iterative assembly of defined HS sequences containing the d-GlcN-α-1,4-d-GlcA repeat, highlighted by completing this for two tetrasaccharide syntheses.
Topics: Disaccharides; Glucuronic Acid; Oligosaccharides; Heparitin Sulfate; Glucuronates
PubMed: 37458063
DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c01108 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2022Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a Glycosaminoglycan made of disaccharide units containing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and glucuronic acid. Its molecular mass can reach 10 MDa and its... (Review)
Review
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a Glycosaminoglycan made of disaccharide units containing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and glucuronic acid. Its molecular mass can reach 10 MDa and its physiological properties depend on its polymeric property, polyelectrolyte feature and viscous nature. HA is a ubiquitous compound found in almost all biological tissues and fluids. So far, HA grades are produced by biotechnology processes, while in the human organism it is a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in brain tissue, synovial fluid, vitreous humor, cartilage and skin. Indeed, HA is capable of forming hydrogels, polymer crosslinked networks that are very hygroscopic. Based on these considerations, we propose an overview of HA-based scaffolds developed for brain cancer treatment, central and peripheral nervous systems, discuss their relevance and identify the most successful developed systems.
Topics: Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Polyelectrolytes; Acetylglucosamine; Hydrogels; Glycosaminoglycans; Glucuronic Acid; Disaccharides; Nervous System; Tissue Scaffolds; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 36293030
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012174 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2016Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is on the cusp of permitting the direct fabrication of artificial living tissue. Multicellular building blocks (bioinks) are dispensed... (Review)
Review
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is on the cusp of permitting the direct fabrication of artificial living tissue. Multicellular building blocks (bioinks) are dispensed layer by layer and scaled for the target construct. However, only a few materials are able to fulfill the considerable requirements for suitable bioink formulation, a critical component of efficient 3D bioprinting. Alginate, a naturally occurring polysaccharide, is clearly the most commonly employed material in current bioinks. Here, we discuss the benefits and disadvantages of the use of alginate in 3D bioprinting by summarizing the most recent studies that used alginate for printing vascular tissue, bone and cartilage. In addition, other breakthroughs in the use of alginate in bioprinting are discussed, including strategies to improve its structural and degradation characteristics. In this review, we organize the available literature in order to inspire and accelerate novel alginate-based bioink formulations with enhanced properties for future applications in basic research, drug screening and regenerative medicine.
Topics: Alginates; Bioprinting; Glucuronic Acid; Hexuronic Acids; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 27898010
DOI: 10.3390/ijms17121976 -
Microbiology Spectrum Oct 2022Maintaining the health of seafarers is a difficult task during long-term voyages. Little is known about the corresponding changes in the gut microbiome-host interaction....
Maintaining the health of seafarers is a difficult task during long-term voyages. Little is known about the corresponding changes in the gut microbiome-host interaction. This study recruited 30 seafarers undertaking a 6-month voyage and analyzed their gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Fecal untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Significant changes in the composition of the gut microbiota and an increased ratio of / at the end (day 180) of the 6-month voyage, relative to the start (day 0), were observed. At the genus level, the abundances of and were significantly increased, while the abundance of was decreased. Predicted microbial functional analysis revealed significant decreases in folate biosynthesis and biotin metabolism. Furthermore, 20 differential metabolites within six differentially enriched human metabolic pathways (including arginine biosynthesis, lysine degradation, phenylalanine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism) were identified by comparing the fecal metabolites at day 0 and day 180. Spearman correlation analysis revealed close relationships between the 14 differential microbiota members and the six differential fecal metabolites that might affect specific human metabolic pathways. This study adopted a multi-omics approach and provides potential targets for maintaining the health of seafarers during long-term voyages. These findings are worthy of more in-depth exploration in future studies. Maintaining the health of seafarers undertaking long-term voyages is a difficult task. Apart from the alterations in the gut microbiome and fecal metabolites after a long-term voyage, our study also revealed that 20 differential metabolites within six differentially enriched human metabolic pathways are worthy of attention. Moreover, we found close relationships between the 14 differential microbiota members and the six differential fecal metabolites that might impact specific human metabolic pathways. Accordingly, preventative measures, such as adjusting the gut microbiota by decreasing potential pathobionts or increasing potential probiotics as well as offsetting the decrease in B vitamins and beneficial metabolites (e.g., d-glucuronic acid and citrulline) via dietary adjustment or nutritional supplements, might improve the health of seafarers during long-term sea voyages. These findings provide valuable clues about gut microbiome-host interactions and propose potential targets for maintaining the health of seafarers engaged in long-term sea voyages.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Vitamin B Complex; Citrulline; Biotin; Lysine; Metabolomics; Feces; Pentoses; Glucuronates; Glycine; Glucuronic Acid; Serine; Phenylalanine; Sphingolipids; Threonine; Arginine; Folic Acid
PubMed: 36197290
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01899-22 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2022Biopolymeric nanoparticulate systems hold favorable carrier properties for active delivery. The enhancement in the research interest in alginate formulations in... (Review)
Review
Biopolymeric nanoparticulate systems hold favorable carrier properties for active delivery. The enhancement in the research interest in alginate formulations in biomedical and pharmaceutical research, owing to its biodegradable, biocompatible, and bioadhesive characteristics, reiterates its future use as an efficient drug delivery matrix. Alginates, obtained from natural sources, are the colloidal polysaccharide group, which are water-soluble, non-toxic, and non-irritant. These are linear copolymeric blocks of α-(1→4)-linked l-guluronic acid (G) and β-(1→4)-linked d-mannuronic acid (M) residues. Owing to the monosaccharide sequencing and the enzymatically governed reactions, alginates are well-known as an essential bio-polymer group for multifarious biomedical implementations. Additionally, alginate's bio-adhesive property makes it significant in the pharmaceutical industry. Alginate has shown immense potential in wound healing and drug delivery applications to date because its gel-forming ability maintains the structural resemblance to the extracellular matrices in tissues and can be altered to perform numerous crucial functions. The initial section of this review will deliver a perception of the extraction source and alginate's remarkable properties. Furthermore, we have aspired to discuss the current literature on alginate utilization as a biopolymeric carrier for drug delivery through numerous administration routes. Finally, the latest investigations on alginate composite utilization in wound healing are addressed.
Topics: Alginates; Biopolymers; Glucuronic Acid; Hexuronic Acids; Polymers; Wound Healing
PubMed: 36012297
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169035 -
Microbial Biotechnology Nov 2013Alginate is an important polysaccharide used widely in the food, textile, printing and pharmaceutical industries for its viscosifying, and gelling properties. All... (Review)
Review
Alginate is an important polysaccharide used widely in the food, textile, printing and pharmaceutical industries for its viscosifying, and gelling properties. All commercially produced alginates are isolated from farmed brown seaweeds. These algal alginates suffer from heterogeneity in composition and material properties. Here, we will discuss alginates produced by bacteria; the molecular mechanisms involved in their biosynthesis; and the potential to utilize these bacterially produced or modified alginates for high-value applications where defined material properties are required.
Topics: Alginates; Bacteria; Bacterial Proteins; Glucuronic Acid; Hexuronic Acids; Molecular Structure
PubMed: 24034361
DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12076