Versatile functionalization of pectic conjugate: From design to biomedical applications

Exploring the potential of waste biomass-derived pectin and its functionalized derivatives for water treatment

Environmental pollution remains a constant challenge due to the indiscriminate use of fossil fuels, mining activities, chemicals, drugs, aromatic compounds, pesticides, etc. Many emerging pollutants with no fixed standards for monitoring and control are being reported. These have adverse impacts on human life and the environment around us. This alarms the wastewater management towards developing materials that can be used for bulk water treatment and are easily available, low cost, non-toxic and biodegradable. Waste biomass like pectin is extracted from fruit peels which are a discarded material. It is used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications but its application as a material for water treatment is very limited in literature. The scientific gap in literature review reports is evident with discussion only on pectin based hydrogels or specific pectin derivatives for some applications. This review focuses on the chemistry, extraction, functionalization and production of pectin derivatives and their applications in water treatment processes. Pectin functionalized derivatives can be used as a flocculant, adsorbent, nano biopolymer, biochar, hybrid material, Metal-organic frameworks, and scaffold for the removal of heavy metals, ions, toxic dyes, and other contaminants. The huge quantum of pectin biomass may be explored further to strengthen environmental sustainability and circular economy practices.

Biological Properties and Biomedical Applications of Pectin and Pectin-Based Composites: A Review

Pectin has recently drawn much attention in biomedical applications due to its distinctive chemical and biological properties. Polymers like pectin with cell-instructive properties are attractive natural biomaterials for tissue repair and regeneration. In addition, bioactive pectin and pectin-based composites exhibit improved characteristics to deliver active molecules. Pectin and pectin-based composites serve as interactive matrices or scaffolds by stimulating cell adhesion and cell proliferation and enhancing tissue remodeling by forming an extracellular matrix in vivo. Several bioactive properties, such as immunoregulatory, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidant activities, contribute to the pectin's and pectin-based composite's enhanced applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems. Tissue engineering scaffolds containing pectin and pectin-based conjugates or composites demonstrate essential features such as nontoxicity, tunable mechanical properties, biodegradability, and suitable surface properties. The design and fabrication of pectic composites are versatile for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. This article reviews the promising characteristics of pectin or pectic polysaccharides and pectin-based composites and highlights their potential biomedical applications, focusing on drug delivery and tissue engineering.