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Advancement in the Biomedical Applications of the (Nano)gel Structures Based on Particular Polysaccharides
Author(s) -
Chiriac Aurica P.,
Ghilan Alina,
Neamtu Iordana,
Nita Loredana E.,
Rusu Alina G.,
Chiriac Vlad Mihai
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/mabi.201900187
Subject(s) - gellan gum , biocompatibility , agarose , natural polymers , nanotechnology , nano , polysaccharide , guar gum , chemistry , biomolecule , polymer , biopolymer , polyelectrolyte , materials science , polymer science , organic chemistry , chromatography , biochemistry , food science , composite material
(Nano)gels from macromolecular compounds—natural, synthetic, or a combination thereof, suitable crosslinkers—and conferred characteristics—such as degradability, size, charge, amphiphilicity, responsiveness, and softness—are capable of responding to the challenges imposed by bioengineering applications. Polysaccharide‐based gels have received particular attention in this field. This review addresses recent advancement in the use of (nano)gel structures prepared only from compounds based on gellan gum, heparin, chondroitin sulfate, carrageenan, guar gum, galactose, or agarose, which represent an important part of the special class of natural polymers, the polysaccharides. Also, future trends are taken into discussion regarding the (nano)gels' use in biomedical applications such as biomimetics, biosensors, artificial muscles, and chemical separations in relation with their ability to be used as a vehicle for various biomolecules due to their physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability.