Electrospun fibers based on carbohydrate gum polymers and their multifaceted applications

A comprehensive review on guar gum and its modified biopolymers: Their potential applications in tissue engineering

Guar gum (GG), as a non-exudate gum, is extracted from the seed's embryos of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (a member of Leguminosae family). Recently, this biopolymer has received extensive attention due to its low cost, notable properties, non-toxic biodegradation, ease of availability, and biocompatibility. However, disadvantages such as uncontrolled hydration rate and susceptibility to microbial attack have led many researchers to further modification of guar gum. Further modifications of guar gum heteropolysaccharide have been performed to improve properties and explore and expand its potential. The favorable biostability, improved solubility, and swelling, increased pH sensitivity, and good antibacterial and antioxidant properties indicate the significant advantages of the modified gum structures with different functional groups. In this review, the rapid growth in research on GG derivatives-based materials has been discovered. Besides, the production methods of GG and its derivatives have been discussed in tissue engineering and regenerative medical. Consequently, this review highlights the advances in the production of guar-based products to outline a promising future for this biopolymer by changing its properties and expanding its applications in potential targets.

Anisotropic materials based on carbohydrate polymers: A review of fabrication strategies, properties, and applications

Anisotropic structures exist in almost all living organisms to endow them with superior properties and physiological functionalities. However, conventional artificial materials possess unordered isotropic structures, resulting in limited functions and applications. The development of anisotropic structures on carbohydrates is reported to have an impact on their properties and applications. In this review, various alignment strategies for carbohydrates (i.e., cellulose, chitin and alginate) from bottom-up to top-down strategies are discussed, including the rapidly developed innovative technologies such as shear-induced orientation through extrusion-based 3D/4D printing, magnetic-assisted alignment, and electric-induced alignment. The unique properties and wide applications of anisotropic carbohydrate materials across different fields, from biomedical, biosensors, smart actuators, soft conductive materials, to thermal management are also summarized. Finally, recommendations on the selection of fabrication strategies are given. The major challenge lies in the construction of long-range hierarchical alignment with high orientation degree and precise control over complicated architectures. With the future development of hierarchical alignment strategies, alignment control techniques, and alignment mechanism elucidation, the potential of anisotropic carbohydrate materials for scalable manufacture and clinical applications will be fully realized.

A systematic review on green and natural polymeric nanofibers for biomedical applications

Electrospinning is the simplest technique to produce ultrathin nanofibers, which enables the use of nanotechnology in various applications. Nanofibrous materials produced through electrospinning have garnered significant attention in biomedical applications due to their unique properties and versatile potential. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on incorporating sustainability principles into material design and production. However, electrospun nanofibers, owing to their reliance on solvents associated with significant drawbacks like toxicity, flammability, and disposal challenges, frequently fall short of meeting environmentally friendly standards. Due to the limited solvent choices and heightened concerns for safety and hygiene in modern living, it becomes imperative to carefully assess the implications of employing electrospun nanofibers in diverse applications and consumer products. This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the current state of research and development in the field of "green and natural" electrospun polymer nanofibers as well as more fascinating and eco-friendly commercial techniques, solvent preferences, and other green routes that respect social and legal restrictions tailored for biomedical applications. We explore the utilization of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers sourced from renewable feedstocks, eco-friendly processing techniques, and the evaluation of environmental impacts. Our review highlights the potential of green and natural electrospun nanofibers to address sustainability concerns while meeting the demanding requirements of various biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, and diagnostic platforms. We analyze the advantages, challenges, and future prospects of these materials, offering insights into the evolving landscape of environmentally responsible nanofiber technology in the biomedical field.

Development of Vitamin C-Loaded Electrospun Nanofibers of Mixture of Polysaccharides of Pullulan/Xanthan Gum for Fast Dissolving Oral Film Applications

In this study, polysaccharide-based nanofibrous fast dissolving oral films (FDOFs) were developed using pullulan (PUL) and xanthan gum (XG) via electrospinning. The edible, continuous, and bead-free nanofibers with average diameters ranging from 181.17 nm to 260.84 nm were prepared. The morphological, thermal, mechanical, and water-soluble properties of the nanofibrous FDOFs were characterized. For prospective future applications of the developed PUL/XG FDOFs, a model nutrient of vitamin C (VC) was encapsulated into the FDOFs. The success of VC encapsulation was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The encapsulation efficiency of VC was above 85% by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The amorphous structure of PUL/XG in the nanofibers film was demonstrated by X-ray diffractometer. In addition, the edible FDOFs could dissolve in water within 3 s. The nanofibers film we prepared could be used as nutrient or drug carriers and edible packaging film.

Metallic elements combine with herbal compounds upload in microneedles to promote wound healing: a review

Wound healing is a dynamic and complex restorative process, and traditional dressings reduce their therapeutic effectiveness due to the accumulation of drugs in the cuticle. As a novel drug delivery system, microneedles (MNs) can overcome the defect and deliver drugs to the deeper layers of the skin. As the core of the microneedle system, loaded drugs exert a significant influence on the therapeutic efficacy of MNs. Metallic elements and herbal compounds have been widely used in wound treatment for their ability to accelerate the healing process. Metallic elements primarily serve as antimicrobial agents and facilitate the enhancement of cell proliferation. Whereas various herbal compounds act on different targets in the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases of wound healing. The interaction between the two drugs forms nanoparticles (NPs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), reducing the toxicity of the metallic elements and increasing the therapeutic effect. This article summarizes recent trends in the development of MNs made of metallic elements and herbal compounds for wound healing, describes their advantages in wound treatment, and provides a reference for the development of future MNs.

Preparation of hydroxypropyl starch/polyvinyl alcohol composite nanofibers films and improvement of hydrophobic properties

Starch-derived edible films have great potential as biodegradable food packaging and biomedical materials, in this study, we adopted a green method to prepare starch-based composite electrospun nanofibers films. The hydroxypropyl starches (HPS) were prepared to improve native starch solubility and properties, and a series of blend solutions were prepared with different HPS/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) weight ratios. The comparison of the properties of HPS/PVA (HPA) nanofibers with different amylose contents were evaluated, and the fibers fabricated from hydroxypropyl high amylose starch (HP-HAS) had more continuous and homogeneous morphologies compared to the other starch fibers, it was also found that the addition of HP-HAS in the film has better mechanical properties than pure PVA film. Thus, to improve the hydrophobicity of the film, the HP-HAS/PVA (HPA(H)) nanofiber was selected for the hydrophobic study by the citric acid (CA) treatment. The hydrophobic surface was formed on the HPA(H) film by CA self-assembled coating with a water contact angle changed from 30.95° up to 100.74°. This study successfully prepared the modified starch/PVA composite nanofibers and established a simple method of self-assembled hydrophobic modification to improve water stability. Therefore, this green strategy is an alternative candidate in further study for food packaging and relative areas.

Gellan Gum in Wound Dressing Scaffolds

Several factors, such as bacterial infections, underlying conditions, malnutrition, obesity, ageing, and smoking are the most common issues that cause a delayed process of wound healing. Developing wound dressings that promote an accelerated wound healing process and skin regeneration is crucial. The properties of wound dressings that make them suitable for the acceleration of the wound healing process include good antibacterial efficacy, excellent biocompatibility, and non-toxicity, the ability to provide a moist environment, stimulating cell migration and adhesion, and providing gaseous permeation. Biopolymers have demonstrated features appropriate for the development of effective wound dressing scaffolds. Gellan gum is one of the biopolymers that has attracted great attention in biomedical applications. The wound dressing materials fabricated from gellan gum possess outstanding properties when compared to traditional dressings, such as good biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, renewability, and stable nature. This biopolymer has been broadly employed for the development of wound dressing scaffolds in different forms. This review discusses the physicochemical and biological properties of gellan gum-based scaffolds in the management of wounds.

Electrospinning as a Promising Process to Preserve the Quality and Safety of Meat and Meat Products

Fresh and processed meat products are staple foods worldwide. However, these products are considered perishable foods and their deterioration depends partly on the inner and external properties of meat. Beyond conventional meat preservation approaches, electrospinning has emerged as a novel effective alternative to develop active and intelligent packaging. Thus, this review aims to discuss the advantages and shortcomings of electrospinning application for quality and safety preservation of meat and processed meat products. Electrospun fibres are very versatile, and their features can be modulated to deliver functional properties such as antioxidant and antimicrobial effects resulting in shelf-life extension and in some cases product quality improvement. Compared to conventional processes, electrospun fibres provide advantages such as casting and coating in the fabrication of active systems, indicators, and sensors. The approaches for improving, stabilizing, and controlling the release of active compounds and highly sensitive, rapid, and reliable responsiveness, under changes in real-time are still challenging for innovative packaging development. Despite their advantages, the active and intelligent electrospun fibres for meat packaging are still restricted to research and not yet widely used for commercial products. Industrial validation of lab-scale achievements of electrospinning might boost their commercialisation. Safety must be addressed by evaluating the impact of electrospun fibres migration from package to foods on human health. This information will contribute into filling knowledge gaps and sustain clear regulations.

A review on challenges and issues with carboxymethylation of natural gums: The widely used excipients for conventional and novel dosage forms

Diverse properties of natural gums have made them quite useful for various pharmaceutical applications. However, they suffer from various problems, including unregulated hydration rates, microbial degradation, and decline in viscosity during warehousing. Among various chemical procedures for modification of gums, carboxymethylation has been widely studied due to its simplicity and efficiency. Despite the availability of numerous research articles on natural gums and their uses, a comprehensive review on carboxymethylation of natural gums and their applications in the pharmaceutical and other biomedical fields is not published until now. This review outlines the classification of gums and their derivatization methods. Further, we have discussed various techniques of carboxymethylation, process of determination of degree of substitution, and functionalization pattern of substituted gums. Detailed information about the application of carboxymethyl gums as drug delivery carriers has been described. The article also gives a brief account on tissue engineering and cell delivery potential of carboxymethylated gums.

Chitosan nanofiber biocomposites for potential wound healing applications: Antioxidant activity with synergic antibacterial effect

Bacterial wound infection is one of the most common nosocomial infections. The unnecessary employment of antibiotics led to raising the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Accordingly, alternative armaments capable of accelerating wound healing along with bactericidal effects are urgently needed. Considering this, we fabricated chitosan (CS)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers armed with antibacterial silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles. The nanocomposites exhibited a high antioxidant effect and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Besides, based on the results of the cell viability assays, the optimum concentration of ZnONPs and AgNPs in the nanofibrous mats is 0.2% w/v and 0.08% w/v respectively and had no cytotoxicity on fibroblast cells. The scaffold also showed good blood compatibility according to the effects of coagulation time. As well as significant fibroblast migration and proliferation on the wound margin, according to wound-healing assay. All in all, the developed biocompatible, antioxidant, and antibacterial Ag-ZnO NPs incorporated CS/PEO nanofibrous mats showed their potential as an effective wound dressing.

Preparation of carboxymethyl starch/polyvinyl-alcohol electrospun composite nanofibers from a green approach

A green approach for the preparation of starch-based composite nanofibers using electrospinning was developed. The water-soluble sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS) with DS 0.31 was prepared. The addition of co-blending polymer polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) was attempted to improve the CMS solution spinnability, which blends from aqueous solution were prepared at different CMS/PVA weight ratios. The solution parameters including viscosity, surface tension and conductivity were measured and the morphologies of nanofibers were observed by SEM. Smooth, continuous, and defect-free nanofibers were successfully obtained range from the blend of CMS/PVA weight ratios of 10:90 to 80:20. Diameter distribution diagrams suggested that the diameter of the nanofibers reduced with the concentration of CMS increasing. This is the first report that the thin nanofiber (135.29 nm) with bead-free was obtained at the maximal CMS content of 50.0 wt% in the CMS/PVA blend. This study provided a green approach to produce starch-based nano-scale fibers.

Three-dimensional composite electrospun nanofibrous membrane by multi-jet electrospinning with sheath gas for high-efficiency antibiosis air filtration

Three-dimensional (3D) composite polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospun nanofibrous membranes combining both thick and thin nanofibers have been fabricated by the method of multi-jet electrospinning with sheath gas to realize high-efficiency air filtration under a low pressure drop. The thin PAN nanofibers form a dense membrane, with a strong capturing ability on the ultra-fine particles, while the thick PVDF nanofibers play a 3D supporting effect on the thin PAN nanofibers. In this case, the combination results in a fluffy membrane with higher porosity, which could achieve the airflow passing through the membrane without the air pressure drop. The effects of the composite manner of thick nanofibers and thin nanofibers are investigated, in order to optimize the air filtration performance of the 3D composite nanofibrous membrane. As a result, the maximum quality factor for air filtration could reach up to 0.398 Pa^-1. The particle-fiber interaction model was used to simulate the air filtration process as well, and the simulation results were fairly consistent with the experimental results, providing a guidance method for the optimization of composite nanofibrous membrane for high-efficiency air filtration. More interestingly, a cationic poly[2-(N,N-dimethyl amino) ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) was added in the PVDF solution to obtain a composite air filtration membrane with excellent antibiosis performance, which achieved the highest inhibition rate of approximately 90%. In short, this work provides an effective way to promote antibiosis air filtration performance by using an electrospun nanofibrous membrane, and might also effectively accelerate the biological protection application of current air filtration membranes.

Engineering Microneedle Patches for Improved Penetration: Analysis, Skin Models and Factors Affecting Needle Insertion

Transdermal microneedle (MN) patches are a promising tool used to transport a wide variety of active compounds into the skin. To serve as a substitute for common hypodermic needles, MNs must pierce the human stratum corneum (~ 10 to 20 µm), without rupturing or bending during penetration. This ensures that the cargo is released at the predetermined place and time. Therefore, the ability of MN patches to sufficiently pierce the skin is a crucial requirement. In the current review, the pain signal and its management during application of MNs and typical hypodermic needles are presented and compared. This is followed by a discussion on mechanical analysis and skin models used for insertion tests before application to clinical practice. Factors that affect insertion (e.g., geometry, material composition and cross-linking of MNs), along with recent advancements in developed strategies (e.g., insertion responsive patches and 3D printed biomimetic MNs using two-photon lithography) to improve the skin penetration are highlighted to provide a backdrop for future research.

Recent Advances in Fiber-Hydrogel Composites for Wound Healing and Drug Delivery Systems

In the last decades, much research has been done to fasten wound healing and target-direct drug delivery. Hydrogel-based scaffolds have been a recurrent solution in both cases, with some reaching already the market, even though their mechanical stability remains a challenge. To overcome this limitation, reinforcement of hydrogels with fibers has been explored. The structural resemblance of fiber-hydrogel composites to natural tissues has been a driving force for the optimization and exploration of these systems in biomedicine. Indeed, the combination of hydrogel-forming techniques and fiber spinning approaches has been crucial in the development of scaffolding systems with improved mechanical strength and medicinal properties. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the recently developed fiber-hydrogel composite strategies for wound healing and drug delivery is provided. The methodologies employed in fiber and hydrogel formation are also highlighted, together with the most compatible polymer combinations, as well as drug incorporation approaches creating stimuli-sensitive and triggered drug release towards an enhanced host response.

Nanotechnologies: An Innovative Tool to Release Natural Extracts with Antimicrobial Properties

Site-Specific release of active molecules with antimicrobial activity spurred the interest in the development of innovative polymeric nanocarriers. In the preparation of polymeric devices, nanotechnologies usually overcome the inconvenience frequently related to other synthetic strategies. High performing nanocarriers were synthesized using a wide range of starting polymer structures, with tailored features and great chemical versatility. Over the last decade, many antimicrobial substances originating from plants, herbs, and agro-food waste by-products were deeply investigated, significantly catching the interest of the scientific community. In this review, the most innovative strategies to synthesize nanodevices able to release antimicrobial natural extracts were discussed. In this regard, the properties and structure of the starting polymers, either synthetic or natural, as well as the antimicrobial activity of the biomolecules were deeply investigated, outlining the right combination able to inhibit pathogens in specific biological compartments.

Nanoencapsulation of essential oils and their bioactive constituents: A novel strategy to control mycotoxin contamination in food system

Spoilage of food by mycotoxigenic fungi poses a serious risk to food security throughout the world. In view of the negative effects of synthetic preservatives, essential oils (EOs) and their bioactive constituents are gaining momentum as suitable substitute to ensure food safety by controlling mycotoxins. However, despite their proven preservative potential against mycotoxins, the use of EOs/bioactive constituents in real food system is still restricted due to instability caused by abiotic factors and negative impact on organoleptic attributes after direct application. Nanoencapsulation in this regard could be a promising approach to address these problems, since the process can increase the stability of EOs/bioactive constituents, barricades their loss and considerably prevent their interaction with food matrices, thus preserving their original organoleptic qualities. The aim of this review is to provide wider and up-to-date overview on recent advances in nanoencapsulation of EOs/bioactive constituents with the objective to control mycotoxin contamination in food system. Further, the information on polymer characteristics, nanoencapsulation techniques, factors affecting the nanoencapsulation, applications of nanoencapsulated formulations, and characterization along with the study on their release kinetics and impacts on organoleptic attributes of food are discussed. Finally, the safety aspects of nanoencapsulated formulations for their safe utilization are also explored.

An Overview of Biopolymeric Electrospun Nanofibers Based on Polysaccharides for Wound Healing Management

Currently, despite the thoroughgoing scientific research carried out in the area of wound healing management, the treatment of skin injuries, regardless of etiology remains a big provocation for health care professionals. An optimal wound dressing should be nontoxic, non-adherent, non-allergenic, should also maintain a humid medium at the wound interfacing, and be easily removed without trauma. For the development of functional and bioactive dressings, they must meet different conditions such as: The ability to remove excess exudates, to allow gaseous interchange, to behave as a barrier to microbes and to external physical or chemical aggressions, and at the same time to have the capacity of promoting the process of healing by stimulating other intricate processes such as differentiation, cell adhesion, and proliferation. Over the past several years, various types of wound dressings including hydrogels, hydrocolloids, films, foams, sponges, and micro/nanofibers have been formulated, and among them, the electrospun nanofibrous mats received an increased interest from researchers due to the numerous advantages and their intrinsic properties. The drug-embedded nanofibers are the potential candidates for wound dressing application by virtue of: Superior surface area-to volume ratio, enormous porosity (can allow oxy-permeability) or reticular nano-porosity (can inhibit the microorganisms'adhesion), structural similitude to the skin extracellular matrix, and progressive electrospinning methodology, which promotes a prolonged drug release. The reason that we chose to review the formulation of electrospun nanofibers based on polysaccharides as dressings useful in wound healing was based on the ever-growing research in this field, research that highlighted many advantages of the nanofibrillary network, but also a marked versatility in terms of numerous active substances that can be incorporated for rapid and infection-free tissue regeneration. In this review, we have extensively discussed the recent advancements performed on electrospun nanofibers (eNFs) formulation methodology as wound dressings, and we focused as well on the entrapment of different active biomolecules that have been incorporated on polysaccharides-based nanofibers, highlighting those bioagents capable of improving the healing process. In addition, in vivo tests performed to support their increased efficacy were also listed, and the advantages of the polysaccharide nanofiber-based wound dressings compared to the traditional ones were emphasized.