Review: the latest advances in biomedical applications of chitosan hydrogel as a powerful natural structure with eye-catching biological properties

Genetic engineering of protein-based materials provides material scientists with high levels of control in material microstructures, properties, and functions [1]. For example, multi-block protein copolymers in which individual block may possess distinct mechanical or biological properties have been biosynthesized [2, 3]. Polypeptide sequences derived from well-studied structural proteins (e.g., collagen, silk, elastin) are often used as motifs in the design and synthesis of new protein-based material, in which new functional groups may be incorporated. In this fashion, we have produced a series of silk-elastin-like proteins (SELPs) consisting of polypeptide sequences derived from silk of superior mechanical strength and elastin that is extremely durable and resilient [2, 4]. Notably, the silk-like blocks are capable of crystallizing to form virtual cross-links between elastin-mimetic sequences, which, in turn, lower the crystallinity of the silk-like blocks and thus enhance the solubility of SELPs. Consequently, SELPs may be fabricated into useful structures for biomedical applications, including drug delivery. In this study, we will characterize viscoelastic properties of SELPs, which are particularly relevant to tissue engineering applications.

Download Full-text

Microwave-Assisted Desulfation of the Hemolytic Saponins Extracted from Holothuria scabra Viscera

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules27020537 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 537

Author(s):

Philippe Savarino ◽

Emmanuel Colson ◽

Guillaume Caulier ◽

Igor Eeckhaut ◽

Patrick Flammang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biomedical Applications ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Chemical Defenses ◽

Molecular Structures ◽

Marine Animal ◽

Holothuria Scabra ◽

Saponin Content ◽

Alkaline Conditions ◽

Food Market ◽

The Indian Ocean

Saponins are plant and marine animal specific metabolites that are commonly considered as molecular vectors for chemical defenses against unicellular and pluricellular organisms. Their toxicity is attributed to their membranolytic properties. Modifying the molecular structures of saponins by quantitative and selective chemical reactions is increasingly considered to tune the biological properties of these molecules (i) to prepare congeners with specific activities for biomedical applications and (ii) to afford experimental data related to their structure–activity relationship. In the present study, we focused on the sulfated saponins contained in the viscera of Holothuria scabra, a sea cucumber present in the Indian Ocean and abundantly consumed on the Asian food market. Using mass spectrometry, we first qualitatively and quantitatively assessed the saponin content within the viscera of H. scabra. We detected 26 sulfated saponins presenting 5 different elemental compositions. Microwave activation under alkaline conditions in aqueous solutions was developed and optimized to quantitatively and specifically induce the desulfation of the natural saponins, by a specific loss of H2SO4. By comparing the hemolytic activities of the natural and desulfated extracts, we clearly identified the sulfate function as highly responsible for the saponin toxicity.

Download Full-text

Nano Hydroxyapatite (Nano-Hap): A Potential Bioceramic For Biomedical Applications

Current Nanomaterials ◽

10.2174/2405461506666210412154837 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 06 ◽

Author(s):

Varun Saxena ◽

Lalit Pandey ◽

T. S. Srivatsan

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue ◽

Biomedical Applications ◽

High Surface ◽

High Surface Area ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Engineering Applications ◽

Biological Responses ◽

Size And Morphology

Background: Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is one of the most studied biomimic for biomedical applications. Specially, nano-HAp has been utilized for bone tissue engineering various orthopedic applications. HAp possesses various suitable properties such as bioactivity, biodegradability and cell proliferation efficiency for bone tissue engineering applications. Yet, lacks in self-antibacterial activity, high surface area and target efficiency. Results: In this directioon, researchers have focused on exploring the required surface as well as the inherent properties of HAp at the nanoscale. These properties are largely dependent on the composition, size and morphology of the nano-HAp. Hence, nano-HAp has been found to be an excellent candidate with an attractive combination of properties for selection and use in biomedical applications, those required to enhanced biological responses. Further, depending on the type of application, these factors can be tuned to optimize the performance. Conclusion: In this review article, we focus on the chemical structure of HAp and the routes chosen and used for the synthesis of the nano-HAp. The role of various parameters in controlling synthesis at the nanoscale are presented and briefly discussed. In addition, we provide an overview of the various applications for the pristine and doped nano-HAp with recent examples in areas spanning the following: (i) bone tissue engineering applications, (ii) drug delivery applications, (iii) surface coatings, and (iv) scaffolds. The effect of chemical composition on the mechanical properties, surface properties and biological properties are also highlighted. Nano-HAp is found to be highly proficient for its biomedical applications, especially for bone tissue engineering applications. The nano-sized properties enhances the biological responses. The dopant ions that replaces the Ca ion into the hydroxyapatite (HAp) lattice plays a crucial role in its biomedical applications

Download Full-text

Marine Polysaccharides in Pharmaceutical Applications: Fucoidan and Chitosan as Key Players in the Drug Delivery Match Field

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md17120654 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 654 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Ana Isabel Barbosa ◽

Ana Joyce Coutinho ◽

Sofia A. Costa Lima ◽

Salette Reis

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

Tissue Engineering ◽

Biomedical Applications ◽

Chemical Structure ◽

Final Section ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Production Methods ◽

Bioactive Properties ◽

Wide Range ◽

Per Se

The use of marine-origin polysaccharides has increased in recent research because they are abundant, cheap, biocompatible, and biodegradable. These features motivate their application in nanotechnology as drug delivery systems; in tissue engineering, cancer therapy, or wound dressing; in biosensors; and even water treatment. Given the physicochemical and bioactive properties of fucoidan and chitosan, a wide range of nanostructures has been developed with these polysaccharides per se and in combination. This review provides an outline of these marine polysaccharides, including their sources, chemical structure, biological properties, and nanomedicine applications; their combination as nanoparticles with descriptions of the most commonly used production methods; and their physicochemical and biological properties applied to the design of nanoparticles to deliver several classes of compounds. A final section gives a brief overview of some biomedical applications of fucoidan and chitosan for tissue engineering and wound healing.

Download Full-text

Graphene Family Nanomaterials: Properties and Potential Applications in Dentistry

International Journal of Biomaterials ◽

10.1155/2018/1539678 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ziyu Ge ◽

Luming Yang ◽

Fang Xiao ◽

Yani Wu ◽

Tingting Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biomedical Applications ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Antibacterial Properties ◽

Biological Properties ◽

New Materials ◽

Clinical Reality ◽

Comprehensive Literature Review ◽

Potential Applications

Graphene family nanomaterials, with superior mechanical, chemical, and biological properties, have grabbed appreciable attention on the path of researches seeking new materials for future biomedical applications. Although potential applications of graphene had been highly reviewed in other fields of medicine, especially for their antibacterial properties and tissue regenerative capacities, in vivo and in vitro studies related to dentistry are very limited. Therefore, based on current knowledge and latest progress, this article aimed to present the recent achievements and provide a comprehensive literature review on potential applications of graphene that could be translated into clinical reality in dentistry.

Download Full-text

Carbon nanotubes and their polymeric composites: the applications in tissue engineering

Biomanufacturing Reviews ◽

10.1007/s40898-020-00009-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Boyang Huang

Keyword(s):

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Electrical Conductivity ◽

Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue ◽

Biomedical Applications ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Polymeric Composites ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Engineering Applications ◽

Toxicity Effects

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with unique graphitic structure, superior mechanical, electrical, optical and biological properties, has attracted more and more interests in biomedical applications, including gene/drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensor and tissue engineering. In this review, we focus on the role of CNTs and their polymeric composites in tissue engineering applications, with emphasis on their usages in the nerve, cardiac and bone tissue regenerations. The intrinsic natures of CNTs including their physical and chemical properties are first introduced, explaining the structure effects on CNTs electrical conductivity and various functionalization of CNTs to improve their hydrophobic characteristics. Biosafety issues of CNTs are also discussed in detail including the potential reasons to induce the toxicity and their potential strategies to minimise the toxicity effects. Several processing strategies including solution-based processing, polymerization, melt-based processing and grafting methods are presented to show the 2D/3D construct formations using the polymeric composite containing CNTs. For the sake of improving mechanical, electrical and biological properties and minimising the potential toxicity effects, recent advances using polymer/CNT composite the tissue engineering applications are displayed and they are mainly used in the neural tissue (to improve electrical conductivity and biological properties), cardiac tissue (to improve electrical, elastic properties and biological properties) and bone tissue (to improve mechanical properties and biological properties). Current limitations of CNTs in the tissue engineering are discussed and the corresponded future prospective are also provided. Overall, this review indicates that CNTs are promising “next-generation” materials for future biomedical applications.

Download Full-text

Nanohydroxyapatite Reinforced Chitosan Composite Hydrogel with Tunable Mechanical and Biological Properties for Cartilage Regeneration

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-52042-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

B. Y. Santosh Kumar ◽

Arun M. Isloor ◽

G. C. Mohan Kumar ◽

Inamuddin ◽

Abdullah M. Asiri

Keyword(s):

Cartilage Regeneration ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Composite Hydrogel ◽

Time Dependent ◽

Chitosan Hydrogel ◽

Composite Hydrogels ◽

Hydrogel Network ◽

Strength And Durability ◽

Chitosan Composite ◽

L929 Mouse

Abstract With the continuous quest of developing hydrogel for cartilage regeneration with superior mechanobiological properties are still becoming a challenge. Chitosan (CS) hydrogels are the promising implant materials due to an analogous character of the soft tissue; however, their low mechanical strength and durability together with its lack of integrity with surrounding tissues hinder the load-bearing application. This can be solved by developing a composite chitosan hydrogel reinforced with Hydroxyapatite Nanorods (HANr). The objective of this work is to develop and characterize (physically, chemically, mechanically and biologically) the composite hydrogels loaded with different concentration of hydroxyapatite nanorod. The concentration of hydroxyapatite in the composite hydrogel was optimized and it was found that, reinforcement modifies the hydrogel network by promoting the secondary crosslinking. The compression strength could reach 1.62 ± 0.02 MPa with a significant deformation of 32% and exhibits time-dependent, rapid self-recoverable and fatigue resistant behavior based on the cyclic loading-unloading compression test. The storage modulus value can reach nearly 10 kPa which is needed for the proposed application. Besides, composite hydrogels show an excellent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria’s and Candida albicans fungi and their cytocompatibility towards L929 mouse fibroblasts provide a potential pathway to developing a composite hydrogel for cartilage regeneration.

Download Full-text

Potential use of N-carboxyethylchitosan in biomedical applications: Preparation, characterization, biological properties

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules ◽

10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.01.299 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 149 ◽

pp. 664-671 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

H.M. Ibrahim ◽

M. Mostafa ◽

N.G. Kandile

Keyword(s):

Biomedical Applications ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Potential Use

Download Full-text

Recent Advances in the Cancer Bioimaging with Graphene Quantum Dots

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867324666170223154145 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (25) ◽

pp. 2876-2893 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Keheng Li ◽

Xinna Zhao ◽

Gang Wei ◽

Zhiqiang Su

Keyword(s):

Quantum Dots ◽

Biomedical Applications ◽

Cell Imaging ◽

Graphene Quantum Dots ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Live Cells ◽

Physical Chemical ◽

Specific Cancer ◽

Good Biocompatibility ◽

Low Cytotoxicity

Fluorescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted increasing interest in cancer bioimaging due to their stable photoluminescence (PL), high stability, low cytotoxicity, and good biocompatibility. In this review, we present the synthesis and chemical modification of GQDs firstly, and then introduce their unique physical, chemical, and biological properties like the absorption, PL, and cytotoxicity of GQDs. Finally and most importantly, the recent applications of GQDs in cancer bioimaging are demonstrated in detail, in which we focus on the biofunctionalization of GQDs for specific cancer cell imaging and real-time molecular imaging in live cells. We expect this work would provide valuable guides on the synthesis and modification of GQDs with adjustable properties for various biomedical applications in the future.

Download Full-text