Plant Polysaccharides in Engineered Pharmaceutical Gels

Hydrogels are a great ally in the pharmaceutical and biomedical areas. They have a three-dimensional polymeric structure that allows the swelling of aqueous fluids, acting as an absorbent, or encapsulating bioactive agents for controlled drug release. Interestingly, plants are a source of biogels, s...

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Published in:Bioengineering (Basel) 2022-08, Vol.9 (8), p.376
Main Authors: Bahú, Juliana O, de Andrade, Lucas R. Melo, de Melo Barbosa, Raquel, Crivellin, Sara, da Silva, Aline Pioli, Souza, Samuel D. A, Cárdenas Concha, Viktor O, Severino, Patrícia, Souto, Eliana B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
absorbent
Antiinfectives and antibacterials
bio-based
Biocompatibility
Biodegradability
Biodegradable materials
Biodegradation
Bioengineering
Biomedical materials
Cellulose
Cellulose acetate
Chemical bonds
Controlled release
Crosslinking
Drug delivery
Drug delivery systems
Economics
Extracellular matrix
gums
Hemicellulose
Hydrogels
lignocellulosic
Mechanical properties
Monomers
Pectin
Pharmaceuticals
Plants
Polyethylene
Polymerization
Polymers
Polysaccharides
Raw materials
Review
Tissue engineering
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Summary:Hydrogels are a great ally in the pharmaceutical and biomedical areas. They have a three-dimensional polymeric structure that allows the swelling of aqueous fluids, acting as an absorbent, or encapsulating bioactive agents for controlled drug release. Interestingly, plants are a source of biogels, specifically polysaccharides, composed of sugar monomers. The crosslinking of these polymeric chains forms an architecture similar to the extracellular matrix, enhancing the biocompatibility of such materials. Moreover, the rich hydroxyl monomers promote a hydrophilic behavior for these plant-derived polysaccharide gels, enabling their biodegradability and antimicrobial effects. From an economic point of view, such biogels help the circular economy, as a green material can be obtained with a low cost of production. As regards the bio aspect, it is astonishingly attractive since the raw materials (polysaccharides from plants-cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, inulin, pectin, starch, guar, and cashew gums, etc.) might be produced sustainably. Such properties make viable the applications of these biogels in contact with the human body, especially incorporating drugs for controlled release. In this context, this review describes some sources of plant-derived polysaccharide gels, their biological function, main methods for extraction, remarkable applications, and properties in the health field.
ISSN:2306-5354
2306-5354
DOI:10.3390/bioengineering9080376