Alkali-treated konjac glucomannan film as a novel wound dressing

Fucoidan loaded PVA/Dextran blend electrospun nanofibers for the effective wound healing

Chronic wounds have become a serious global health issue. In this study, we investigated the effect of increasing fucoidan (FD) concentration on the characteristics of nanofibers and their wound healing potential at in vitro as well as in vivo level. The results showed that increasing FD content (0.25 to 1 %) led to an significant increase in nanofiber diameter (487.7 ± 125.39 to 627.9 ± 149.78 nm), entrapment efficiency (64.26 ± 2.6 to 94.9 ± 3.1 %), and water uptake abilities (436.5 ± 1.2 to 679.7 ± 11.3 %). However, the in vitro biodegradation profile decreased with an increase in FD concentration. Water vapor transmission rate analysis showed that it was within the standard range for all FD concentrations. Nanofibers with 1 % PVA/DX/FD exhibited slow-release behavior, suggesting prolonged FD availability at the wound site. In vivo studies in rats with full-thickness wounds demonstrated that applying 1 % FD-enriched PVA/DEX nanofibers significantly (p < 0.0001) improved mean wound area closure. These findings suggest that FD-enriched nanofibers have immense potential as a wound dressing material in future if explored further.

Self-healing hydrogels based on biological macromolecules in wound healing: A review

The complete healing of skin wounds has been a challenge in clinical treatment. Self-healing hydrogels are special hydrogels formed by distinctive physicochemically reversible bonds, and they are considered promising biomaterials in the biomedical field owing to their inherently good drug-carrying capacity as well as self-healing and repair abilities. Moreover, natural polymeric materials have received considerable attention in skin tissue engineering owing to their low cytotoxicity, low immunogenicity, and excellent biodegradation rates. In this paper, we review recent advances in the design of self-healing hydrogels based on natural polymers for skin-wound healing applications. First, we outline a variety of natural polymers that can be used to construct self-healing hydrogel systems and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of different natural polymers. We then describe the principle of self-healing hydrogels in terms of two different crosslinking mechanisms-physical and chemical-and dissect their performance characteristics based on the practical needs of skin-trauma applications. Next, we outline the biological mechanisms involved in the healing of skin wounds and describe the current application strategies for self-healing hydrogels based on these mechanisms. Finally, we analyze and summarize the challenges and prospects of natural-material-based self-healing hydrogels for skin applications.

Preparation and characterization of porous membranes of glucomannan and silver decorated cellulose nanocrystals for application as biomaterial

Bacterial infection usually represents a threat in medical wound care, due to the increase in treatment complexity and the risk of antibiotic resistance. For presenting interesting characteristics for the use as biomaterial, natural polymers have been explored for this application. Among them, a promising candidate is the konjac glucomannan (KGM) with outstanding biocompatibility and biodegradability but lack of antibacterial activity. In this study, KGM was combined with silver decorated cellulose nanocrystals (CNC-Ag) to prepare membranes by using a recent reported casting-freezing method. The results highlight the potential anti-adhesive activity of the new materials against Staphylococcus aureus upon contact, without the burst release of silver nanoparticles. Furthermore, the incorporation of CNC enhanced the thermal stability of these membranes while preserving the favorable mechanical properties of the KGM-based material. These findings highlight a straightforward approach to enhance the antibacterial properties of natural polymers, which can be effectively useful in medical devices like wound dressings that typically lack such properties.

Konjac glucomannan-based hydrogels with health-promoting effects for potential edible electronics applications: A mini-review

Konjac glucomannan (KGM), a dietary fiber hydrocolloid polysaccharide isolated from Amorphophallus konjac tubers, has potential applications in various fields. However, the use of KGM-based hydrogels has mainly focused on the food, biomedical, and water treatment industries. KGM possesses several health benefits and could be a promising candidate for use in edible electronics. This paper presents the first review of KGM-based hydrogels as edible electronics and their potential health benefits. The paper initially focuses on the health-promoting effects of KGM-based hydrogels, such as prebiotic effects, antiobesity, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Then, it discusses the feasible design strategies for KGM-based hydrogels as edible electronics, considering their flexibility, mechanical properties, response to stimuli, degradability aspects, their role as electronic device components, and the retention period of the devices. Finally, this review outlines future directions for developing KGM-based hydrogels for use in edible electronics.

Review of Konjac Glucomannan Structure, Properties, Gelation Mechanism, and Application in Medical Biology

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a naturally occurring macromolecular polysaccharide that exhibits remarkable film-forming and gel-forming properties, and a high degree of biocompatibility and biodegradability. The helical structure of KGM is maintained by the acetyl group, which plays a crucial role in preserving its structural integrity. Various degradation methods, including the topological structure, can enhance the stability of KGM and improve its biological activity. Recent research has focused on modifying KGM to enhance its properties, utilizing multi-scale simulation, mechanical experiments, and biosensor research. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the structure and properties of KGM, recent advancements in non-alkali thermally irreversible gel research, and its applications in biomedical materials and related areas of research. Additionally, this review outlines prospects for future KGM research, providing valuable research ideas for follow-up experiments.

Synergy of antioxidant and M2 polarization in polyphenol-modified konjac glucomannan dressing for remodeling wound healing microenvironment

Effective skin wound healing and tissue regeneration remain a challenge. Excessive/chronic inflammation inhibits wound healing, leading to scar formation. Herein, we report a wound dressing composed of KGM-GA based on the natural substances konjac glucomannan (KGM) and gallic acid (GA) that accelerates wound healing without any additional drugs. An in vitro study showed that KGM-GA could not only stimulate macrophage polarization to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype but also decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, indicating excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, in vivo studies of skin wounds demonstrated that the KGM-GA dressing significantly improved wound healing by accelerating wound closure, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis. In addition, it was observed that KGM-GA regulated M2 polarization, reducing the production of intracellular ROS in the wound microenvironment, which was consistent with the in vitro experiments. Therefore, this study designed a multifunctional biomaterial with biological activity, providing a novel dressing for wound healing.

In Situ Release of Ulvan from Crosslinked Ulvan/Chitosan Complex Films and Their Evaluation as Wound Dressings

When a wound forms due to any injuries, it should be covered with a functional wound dressing for accelerating wound healing and reducing infection. In this study, crosslinked ulvan/chitosan complex films were prepared with or without the addition of glycerol and chlorophyll, and their wound healing properties were evaluated for potential application in wound dressing. The results showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break of the prepared ulvan/chitosan complex films were 2.23-2.48 MPa and 83.8-108.5%, respectively. Moreover, their water vapor transmission rates (WVTRs) were in the range of 1791-2029 g/m²-day, providing suitable environment for wound healing. Particularly, these complex films could release ulvan in situ in a short time, and the film with chlorophyll added had the highest release rate, reaching 62.8% after 20 min of releasing. In vitro studies showed that they were biocompatible toward NIH 3T3 and HaCaT cells, and promoted the migration of NIH 3T3 cells. These complex films could protect HaCaT cells from oxidative damage and reduce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); the addition of chlorophyll also effectively reduced the inflammatory response induced by LPS as found in the reduction in both NO and IL-6. Animal models showed that the complex films added with glycerol and chlorophyll could promote wound healing in the early stage, while accelerating the regeneration of dermal glands and collagen production. Briefly, these ulvan/chitosan complex films had good physiochemical properties and biological activity, and could accelerate wound healing both in vitro and in vivo.

Co-assembling of natural drug-food homologous molecule into composite hydrogel for accelerating diabetic wound healing

Diabetic wound healing is a major clinical challenge due to its vulnerability to bacterial infection and the prolonged inflammation in the wound. Traditional dressings for the healing of diabetic wounds are often suffered from unsatisfactory efficacy and frequent dressing changes which may cause secondary damage. Therefore, it is necessary to find a wound dressing that balances material functionality, degradation, safety, and tissue regeneration. Our recent studies demonstrated that gallic acid (GA) could spontaneously form supramolecular hydrogels at a relatively high concentration. However, a single network of GA hydrogel is prone to degradation, poor adhesion, and poor swelling, and may not be suitable for wound healing dressings. In this study, a composite hydrogel (GAK) was constructed by introducing konjac glucomannan (KGM) into the gel system of gallic acid (GA) and applied to promote diabetic wound healing. The composite hydrogel (GAK) with superior surface adhesion, stability, and swelling properties than the single-network of GA hydrogel. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that GAK hydrogel had excellent biocompatibility and exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Additionally, the GAK hydrogel could significantly accelerate angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and re-epithelialization during wound healing in diabetic mice, reducing the expression of related inflammatory proteins interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and improving the wound closure rate. The findings of this study suggest that this composite hydrogel (GAK) can be an ideal dressing material for accelerating diabetic wound healing.

Preliminary Cleaning Approach with Alginate and Konjac Glucomannan Polysaccharide Gel for the Surfaces of East Asian and Western String Musical Instruments

The cleaning of string musical instruments is challenging due to the traditional finishing treatments used by the makers. Multilayered coating systems were applied to Western musical instruments, while the Nakdong technique was applied in East Asia. Furthermore, by restorations and performance, dust and grime were overlapped together with polishes, adhesives, and varnishes. Gel cleaning is important in the field of conservation because of the ability to selectively remove chemical and biological degradation products from the surface, minimizing the interactions with the inner layers. In this study, hydrogels based on sodium alginate (SA) and konjac glucomannan (KG) polysaccharides were applied on laboratory mock-ups of East Asian and Western instruments to test their ability to remove synthetic soiling and sweat from the surface. In particular, SA cross-linked with calcium cations and KG cross-linked with borate gels were used. To control the exposure of the cleaning solvent on the surface of mock-ups, the moisture content of the gels was determined. The effectiveness of removing synthetic contaminants was investigated by noninvasive analytical methods. Stereomicroscopy and colorimetry, together with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in reflection mode and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), were used to evaluate the cleaning efficacy. Overall, polysaccharide hydrogels resulted in promising cleaning systems on both smooth and rough surfaces of wood.

Deacetylation enhances the properties of konjac glucomannan/agar composites

From a microstructural point of view, this work concerns how deacetylation improves the practical characteristics of deacetylated-konjac glucomannan/agar (DK/A) composite films. As disclosed by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, the deacetylation of konjac glucomannan (KGM) enhanced the chain interactions in DK/A composites and suppressed the realignment of agar molecules into crystallites. The enhanced associations between acetyl-free regions of KGM and agar reduced the exposure of OH groups and thus increased the hydrophobicity of the composites. Besides, the partial removal of acetyl groups allowed shortened distances between chains; consequently, denser composite matrices emerged with lower water vapor permeability and higher tensile strength. Also, the KGM deacetylation increased the matrix flexibility and elongation at break for DK/A composites, associated with the hindered rearrangement of agar chains. Thus, altering the deacetylation degree of KGM may be an effective way to design KGM-based composites with improved hydrophobicity and mechanical performance.

Effects of Konjaku Flour on the Gut Microbiota of Obese Patients

OBJECTIVE

Gut microbiota have been thought to play a role in the emergence of obesity and metabolic disorders, thus dietary fiber may be an effective strategy for the management of obesity by modulating the gut microbiota. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of konjaku flour (KF) supplementation on treating obesity and regulating intestinal microbiota in obese adults.

METHODS

In a 5-week, randomized, double-blind, place-controlled trial, sixty-nine obese volunteers aged 25 to 35 with body mass index ≥28 kg/m² were randomly assigned to receive KF or placebo (lotus root starch). Obesity index, blood parameters, and gut microbiota were analyzed.

RESULTS

KF remarkably reduced the body mass index (BMI), fat mass, percentage body fat (PBF), serum triglyceride (TG), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in the patients (p <0.05 or p <0.01). Meanwhile, high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis showed that the konjac flour treatment notably increased the α-diversity and changed the β-diversity of intestinal microflora in patients (p <0.01). Moreover, konjac flour could also evidently increase the abundance of some of the beneficial microorganisms related to obesity of patients, such as Lachnospiraceae, Roseburia, Solobacterium, R. inulinivorans, Clostridium perfringens, and Intestinimonas butyriciproducens, and reduce the abundance of the harmful microorganisms, such as Lactococcus, Bacteroides fragilis, Lactococcus garvieae, B. coprophilus, B. ovatus, and B. thetaiotaomicron (p <0.01). Specifically, C. perfringens was significantly negatively correlated with serum total cholesterol (TC) (p <0.01).

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that KF can achieve positive effects on treating obesity, which manifest on reducing BMI, fat mass, blood glucose, and blood lipid, improving hepatic function, and also regulating intestinal microfloral structure. Therefore, changes in gut microbiota may explain in part the effects of KF.

Physically Crosslinked Hydrogels Based on Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) and Fish Gelatin for Wound Dressing Application: Fabrication and Characterization

We developed the interpenetrating double network composite hydrogel based on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and fish gelatin (FG) via thermal treatment and repeated freeze-thawing. A function of salicylic acid was incorporated into the hydrogel to improve its antibacterial properties. The color values, water contents, water evaporation rate, and swelling behavior were investigated. The drug-loading performance of the composite hydrogel was demonstrated by loading salicylic acid in various hydrogel systems. Moreover, the cumulative dissolution percentage of salicylic acid and the antibacterial activity of composite hydrogel were carried out. The results revealed that as FG concentration increased from 0% to 3.75% (w/v), gels changed from white to slight yellow and the swelling ratio increased from 54% to 83% (within 8 h). The presence of FG decreased the water content of gels which ranged from 86% to 89% and also decreased water evaporation rate. All gels presented the swelling index within 0.5-1.0, indicating a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. The drug sustained dissolution behavior of pure PVA and composite hydrogel showed the same trend. Besides, the presence of the obvious bacteriostatic zones means that drug-loaded composite hydrogels have an effective antibacterial property. These results demonstrated that PVA/FG-based interpenetrating hydrogel is an appropriate biomaterial for drug-carrying wound dressing application.

Wound healing of laser injured skin with glycerol monooleicate cubic liquid crystal

Laser has found increasingly wider applications in the medical filed, but laser is likely to cause damage to patients' skin. In this experiment, we were surprised to find that glyceryl monooleate (GMO)-based cubic liquid crystal had excellent healing effect on the skin of guinea pigs damaged by laser. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL), H.E. pathology, Masson trichrome dyeing, interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and the percutaneous depth of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) dyeing were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of GMO-based cubic liquid crystals against laser damage of different degrees among guinea pigs. GMO-based cubic liquid crystals had an obvious effect in the treatment of slight and moderate laser damage. This finding may provide a effective medical treatment protocols for laser skin damage.

Preparation and bioactivity of acetylated konjac glucomannan fibrous membrane and its application for wound dressing

Biomaterial-host interactions significantly affect tissue repair, which is modulated by macrophages. In this study, a polysaccharide, konjac glucomannan (KGM), was acetylated with different degrees of substitution (DS), and the acetylated KGM (AceKGM)-based fibrous membrane was designed to modulate the activity of macrophages for accelerating wound healing. AceKGM was biocompatible and easily dissolved in organic solvents. The adhesion force between Raw264.7 cells and the AceKGM substrate was quantitatively detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that the AceKGM fibrous membrane enhanced macrophage expression of anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative cytokines, and the DS of AceKGM significantly affected membrane bioactivity. The full-thickness mouse skin wound repair experiments indicated that the AceKGM-containing fibrous membranes significantly accelerated wound healing by promoting re-epithelialization, tissue remodeling, and collagen deposition. In summary, AceKGM-based fibrous membranes have potential as bioactive scaffolds for wound regeneration.

Microfluidic spinning of poly (methyl methacrylate)/konjac glucomannan active food packaging films based on hydrophilic/hydrophobic strategy

Here, inspired by the hydrophilic/hydrophobic theory, a novel konjac glucomannan/poly (methyl methacrylate)/chlorogenic acid (KGM/PMMA/CGA) food packaging film was successfully fabricated via microfluidic spinning technology (MST). The results of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of hydrogen bonds in the films, which lead to the enhanced mechanical properties. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry showed excellent thermal stability of the films. Water vapor permeability (1.47 × 10^-5 ± 0.11 g/(m⋅h⋅kPa)) and water contact angle (89.2°) measurement proved that the films were hydrophobic. The good swelling degree (85.18 ± 15.65%) indicated film's potentials in releasing CGA. More importantly, KGM played a key role in the antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (8.5 ± 3.5 mm) and Escherichia coli (6.5 ± 2.1 mm) by utilizing its hydrophilicity. Thus, our present work may provide a new idea for constructing active food packaging films with significant performances based on hydrophilic/hydrophobic strategy.

Chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol nanoscale liquid film-forming system facilitates MRSA-infected wound healing by enhancing antibacterial and antibiofilm properties

Introduction

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most predominant and fatal pathogens at wound infection sites. MRSA is difficult to treat because of its antibiotic resistance and ability to form biofilms at the wound site.

Methods

In this study, a novel nanoscale liquid film-forming system (LFFS) loaded with benzalkonium bromide was produced based on polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan.

Results

This LFFS showed a faster and more potent effect against MRSA252 than benzalkonium bromide aqueous solution both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the LFFS had a stronger ability to destroy biofilms (5 mg/mL) and inhibit their formation (1.33 μg/mL). The LFFS inflicted obvious damage to the structure and integrity of MRSA cell membranes and caused increases in the release of alkaline phosphate and lactate dehydrogenase in the relative electrical conductivity and in K⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentrations due to changes in the MRSA cell membrane permeability.

Conclusion

The novel LFFS is promising as an effective system for disinfectant delivery and for application in the treatment of MRSA wound infections.

Nanopharmaceuticals for wound healing - Lost in translation?

Today, many of the newly developed pharmaceuticals and medical devices take advantage of nanotechnology and with a rising incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the number of patients afflicted globally with non-healing wounds is growing. This has created a requirement for improved therapies and wound care. However, converting the strategies applied in early research into new products is still challenging. Many of them fail to comply with the market requirements. This review discusses the legal and scientific challenges in the design of nanomedicines for wound healing. Are they lost in translation or is there a new generation of therapeutics in the pipeline?

Morin incorporated polysaccharide-protein (psyllium-keratin) hydrogel scaffolds accelerate diabetic wound healing in Wistar rats

Chronic wounds cost several billion dollars of public healthcare spending annually and continue to be a persistent threat globally. Several treatment methods have been explored, and all of them involve covering up the wound with therapeutic dressings that reduce inflammation and accelerate the healing process. In this present study, morin (MOR) was loaded onto hydrogel scaffolds prepared from psyllium seed husk polysaccharide (PSH), and human hair keratins (KER) crosslinked with sodium trimetaphosphate. ATR-FTIR confirmed the presence of the constituent chemical ingredients. SEM images of the scaffold surface reveal a highly porous architecture, with about 80% porosity measured by liquid displacement measurement, irrespective of the morin concentration. Swelling assays carried out on the scaffolds portray an ability to absorb up to seven times their dry weight of fluids. This makes them attractive for guiding moist wound healing on medium exuding wounds. An Alamar blue assay of NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells shows that cell viability decreases in the first 24 h but recovers to 85% in comparison to a control after 48 h. SEM images of fibroblast cells grown on the scaffolds confirm cellular attachment. An in vivo diabetic wound healing study showed that PSH + KER + MOR scaffold treatment significantly reduced the re-epithelialization time (p < 0.01) and enhanced the rate of wound contraction (p < 0.001), by accelerating collagen synthesis in diabetic rats compared to controls.

Encapsulation of laccase within zwitterionic poly-carboxybetaine hydrogels for improved activity and stability

Encapsulation of laccase within zwitterionic PCB hydrogels for improved activity, affinity and stability.

Mussel-Inspired Fabrication of Konjac Glucomannan/Poly (Lactic Acid) Cryogels with Enhanced Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Three-dimensional nanofibers cryogels (NFCs) with both thermally-tolerant and mechanically-robust properties have potential for wide application in biomedical or food areas; however, creating such NFCs has proven to be extremely challenging. In this study, konjac glucomannan (KGM)/poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-based novel NFCs were prepared by the incorporation of the mussel-inspired protein polydopamine (PDA) via a facile and environmentally-friendly electrospinning and freeze-shaping technique. The obtained KGM/PLA/PDA (KPP) NFCs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and compressive and tensile test. The results showed that the hierarchical cellular structure and physicochemical properties of KPP NFCs were dependent on the incorporation of PDA content. Moreover, the strong intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions among KGM, PLA and PDA also gave KPP NFCs high thermostability and mechanically-robust properties. Thus, this study developed a simple approach to fabricate multifunctional NFCs with significant potential for biomedical or food application.

Preparation of chitosan-collagen-alginate composite dressing and its promoting effects on wound healing

The present study aimed to prepare a composite dressing composed of collagen, chitosan, and alginate, which may promote wound healing and prevent from seawater immersion. Chitosan-collagen-alginate (CCA) cushion was prepared by paintcoat and freeze-drying, and it was attached to a polyurethane to compose CCA composite dressing. The swelling, porosity, degradation, and mechanical properties of CCA cushion were evaluated. The effects on wound healing and seawater prevention of CCA composite dressing were tested by rat wound model. Preliminary biosecurity was tested by cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility. The results revealed that CCA cushion had good water absorption and mechanical properties. A higher wound healing ratio was observed in CCA composite dressing treated rats than in gauze or chitosan treated ones. On the fifth day, the healing rates of CCA composite dressing, gauze, and chitosan were 48.49%±1.07%, 28.02%±6.4%, and 38.97%±8.53%, respectively. More fibroblast and intact re-epithelialization were observed in histological images of CCA composite dressing treated rats, and the expressions of EGF, bFGF, TGF-β, and CD31 increased significantly. CCA composite dressing showed no significant cytotoxicity, and favorable hemocompatibility. These results suggested that CCA composite dressing could prevent against seawater immersion and promote wound healing while having a good biosecurity.

Enhancing effect of γ-cyclodextrin on wound dressing properties of sacran hydrogel film

A wound dressing is one of the essential approaches for preventing further harm to cutaneous wounds as well as promoting wound healing. Therefore, to achieve ideal wound healing, the development of advanced dressing materials is necessary. Recently, we revealed that a novel megamolecular polysaccharide, sacran, has potential properties as a biomaterial in a physically cross-linked hydrogel film (HGF) for wound dressing application. In this study, to enhance the wound-healing properties of sacran hydrogel film (Sac-HGF) further, we fabricated and characterized novel Sac-HGFs containing cyclodextrins (CyDs). The sacran/α-CyD film (Sac/α-CyD-HGF) and sacran/γ-CyD HGF (Sac/γ-CyD-HGF), but not sacran/β-CyD HGF (Sac/β-CyD-HGF), were well prepared without surface roughness. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the Sac/γ-CyD-HGFs showed a totally amorphous state compared to that shown by Sac/α-CyD-HGFs. Furthermore, the addition of γ-CyD to Sac-HGFs significantly increased the swelling ratio, porosity, and moisture content of the HGFs, compared to those of the Sac-HGF without CyDs. The Sac/γ-CyD-HGFs were not cytotoxic against NIH3T3 cells, a murine fibroblast cell line. Notably, the Sac/γ-CyD-HGFs significantly improved wound healing in mice, compared to that achieved with the Sac-HGF without γ-CyD. These results suggest that γ-CyD has the potential to promote the wound healing ability of Sac-HGF.

Konjac glucomannan, a promising polysaccharide of Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch in health care

In recent year, konjac glucomannan (KGM) has attracted more attention due to its non-harmful and non-toxic properties, good biocompatibility, biodegradability and hydrophilic ability. Moreover, KGM and their derivatives have several importances in the multidirectional research areas such as nutritional, biotechnological and fine chemical fields. In the previous article, we have reviewed the nutritional aspects of KGM covering the various aspects of functional foods, food additives and their derivatives. This review aims at highlighting the diverse biomedical research conducted on KGM in the past ten years, covering therapies for anti-obesity, regulation in lipid metabolism, laxative effect, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, prebiotic to wound dressing applications. Moreover, this review deals with global health aspects of KGM and the disparate health related factors associated with diseases and their control measures.