Biopolymers for Medical and Pharmaceutical Applications. Edited by Alexander Steinbüchel and Robert Marchessault

Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 2021

Polysaccharides are essential macromolecules which almost exist in all living forms, and have important biological functions, they are getting more attention because they exhibit a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumour, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, antiviral, and hypoglycemia activities, making them one of the most promising candidates in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Polysaccharides can be obtained from many different sources, such as plants, microorganisms, algae, and animals. Due to their physicochemical properties, they are susceptible to physical and chemical modifications leading to enhanced properties, which is the basic concept for their diverse applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. In this review, we will give insight into the most recent updated applications of polysaccharides and their potentialities as alternatives for traditional and conventional therapies. Challenges and limitations for polysaccharides in pharmaceutical utilities are discussed as well.

Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2008

The ability to produce polysaccharides is widely found among microbial species. The structural diversity of the microbial polysaccharides (MPS) leads to a wide diversity of their applications. This review focuses pharmacological properties of MPS and their derivatives. They have been reported to possess many biological activities, such as antiviral, antitumor, antimicrobial and anticoagulant activities. So, the MPS of the type -1,3-D-glucans, including curdlan and scleroglucan, show antitumor and antiviral activity. A number of biological and synthetic sulfated polysaccharides, including sulfated polysaccharides from marine microalgae, inhibit viral infections. Many of MPS demonstrate a series of attractive properties as carrier materials in drug delivery systems and nonviral gene delivery. Furthermore, MPS have found an application as wound-healing agents, blood plasma expanders and vaccines. Some MPS, like chitin, chitosan and alginate have an unusual combination of biological activities and physicochemical properties leading to the development of novel or improved pharmaceuticals. They have become of a great interest not only as drug and cell carriers but also as new functional materials of high biological activity, and recent progress in MPS chemistry is quite noteworthy. This review also examines the advances in the application of MPS in the field of tissue engineering.

Molecules, 2021

Polysaccharides are complex macromolecules long regarded as energetic storage resources or as components of plant and fungal cell walls. They have also been described as plant mucilages or microbial exopolysaccharides. The development of glycosciences has led to a partial and difficult deciphering of their other biological functions in living organisms. The objectives of glycobiochemistry and glycobiology are currently to correlate some structural features of polysaccharides with some biological responses in the producing organisms or in another one. In this context, the literature focusing on bioactive polysaccharides has increased exponentially during the last two decades, being sometimes very optimistic for some new applications of bioactive polysaccharides, notably in the medical field. Therefore, this review aims to examine bioactive polysaccharide, taking a critical look of the different biological activities reported by authors and the reality of the market. It focuses also o...

Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 2010

Materials Science and Engineering: C, 2016

Polymer modifications open new era for the development of polymers with requisite properties. Use of modified polymers is practically boundless. Different studies focus on biomedical applications of chemically modified polysaccharides. Development and utilization of modified polysaccharides get attention to be used as carrier for pharmaceutical drug delivery as well as tissue engineering scaffolds. Grafted polymer shows better cellular regeneration, signal transmission, diagnostic and imaging material than putative form. This review article aims to discuss various approaches to modify naturally derived polymer and their applications as pharmaceutical drug carrier and as a material for wound dressing and artificial cartilage due to better biophysical cues. Manuscript included various patents based on the applications of modified polymers and techniques used to modify polymers.

2014

Oligosaccharides present specific physicochemical and biological properties that can be exploited for specific applications in foods and pharmacology. They can be produced through a number of different physical, chemical and enzymatic catalysed reactions from their parent polysaccharides as well as through transglycosylation reactions. This chapter examines the pathways leading to the production of bioactive oligosaccharides that have biotechnological applications. These carbohydrate oligomers constitute a nutritional type of "fiber" that benefits the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the colon promoting human health and well-being. The use of oligosaccharides to modify biological responses was recently reported, and this has included their effects as antiinflammatory and anti-cholesterolaemic stimulating compounds. An overview of nutraceutical and biological functions of these carbohydrate fragments mainly for human health is also reported.

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 2018

Natural polysaccharides are renewable with a high degree of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment. Comprehensive investigations of polysaccharides are essential for our fundamental understanding of exploiting its potential as bio-composite, nano-conjugate and in pharmaceutical sectors. Polysaccharides are considered to be superior to other polymers, for its ease in tailoring, bio-compatibility, bio-activity, homogeneity and bio-adhesive properties. The main focus of this review is to spotlight the new advancements and challenges concerned with surface modification, binding domains, biological interaction with the conjugate including stability, polydispersity, and biodegradability. In this review, we have limited our survey to three essential polysaccharides including cellulose, starch, and glycogen that are sourced from plants, microbes, and animals respectively are reviewed. We also present the polysaccharid...

Chemistry – A European Journal, 2021

Polysaccharides, due to their outstanding proper ties, have attracted the attention of researchers, working in the biomedical field and especially of those working in drug delivery. Modified/functionalized polysaccharides further increase the importance for various applications. Delivery of therapeutics for diverse ailments in different endocrine glands and hormones safely, is a focal point of researchers working in the field. Among the routes followed, the transdermal route is preferred due to non-exposure of active moieties to the harsh gastric environment and first-pass metabolism. This review starts with the overview of polysaccharides used for the delivery of various therapeutic agents. Advantages of polysaccharides used in the transdermal route are addressed in detail. Types of polysaccharides will be elaborated through examples, and in this context, special emphasis will be on the polysaccharides being used for synthesis of the membranes/ films. Techniques employed for their modification to design novel carriers for therapeutics delivery will also be discussed. The review will end with a brief discussion on recent developments and future perspectives for delivery of therapeutic agents, and vaccine development.

2018

Harikrishna et al 1-3 INTRODUCTION Polysaccharides are long chain polymers consisting of more than two monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds. Polysaccharides can be divided in to two categories starch derived polysaccharides and nonstarch polysaccharides. These are the natural polysaccharides worlds cheap carbohydrate food source & occupies [1] first position in availability . Polysaccharides are widely distributed in nature and are comparatively cheap, non-toxic, eco-friendly, with different origins, plant origin, animal origin and microbial origin. The different chemical properties of these polysaccharides made them versatile materials which are used for many different applications. Some important properties are holding of H O, binding, thickening, 2

IntechOpen eBooks, 2021

Encapsulation remains a fundamental and consistent approach of fabrication of drug and diagnostic delivery systems in the health space and natural polymers such as polysaccharides and proteins continue to play significant roles. Micro-or nanoencapsulation is employed for the conventional pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, or biologics, bioactives from natural sources and diagnostics such as biomarkers. The outcome of any encapsulation depends on the technique employed and the encapsulating material. The encapsulating materials employed influence the physical and chemical attributes of the fabricated micro-and nanocapsules. The encapsulating materials could be natural or synthetic, however, natural polymers are preferred because they are human and environmentally friendly. Polysaccharides and proteins are abundant in nature, biogenic, biocompatible, biodegradable and possess biological functions making them materials of choice for encapsulation of drugs and diagnostics. This chapter reviews the recent and advanced applications of polysaccharides and proteins as nanocarrier materials for micro-and nanoencapsulation of therapeutics and diagnostics.