Chitin and chitosan based polyurethanes: A review of recent advances and prospective biomedical applications

The mRNA vaccine platform for veterinary species

Vaccination has proven to be an effective means of controlling pathogens in animals. Since the introduction of veterinary vaccines in the 19th century, several generations of vaccines have been introduced. These vaccines have had a positive impact on global animal health and production. Despite, the success of veterinary vaccines, there are still some pathogens for which there are no effective vaccines available, such as African swine fever. Further, animal health is under the constant threat of emerging and re-emerging pathogens, some of which are zoonotic and can pose a threat to human health. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has highlighted the need for new vaccine platforms that are safe and efficacious, but also importantly, are adaptable and can be modified rapidly to match the circulating pathogens. mRNA vaccines have been shown to be an effective vaccine platform against various viral and bacterial pathogens. This review will cover some of the recent advances in the field of mRNA vaccines for veterinary species. Moreover, various mRNA vaccines and their delivery methods, as well as their reported efficacy, will be discussed. Current limitations and future prospects of this vaccine platform in veterinary medicine will also be discussed.

Recent Advances in Biodegradable and Biocompatible Synthetic Polymers Used in Skin Wound Healing

The treatment of skin wounds caused by trauma and pathophysiological disorders has been a growing healthcare challenge, posing a great economic burden worldwide. The use of appropriate wound dressings can help to facilitate the repair and healing rate of defective skin. Natural polymer biomaterials such as collagen and hyaluronic acid with excellent biocompatibility have been shown to promote wound healing and the restoration of skin. However, the low mechanical properties and fast degradation rate have limited their applications. Skin wound dressings based on biodegradable and biocompatible synthetic polymers can not only overcome the shortcomings of natural polymer biomaterials but also possess favorable properties for applications in the treatment of skin wounds. Herein, we listed several biodegradable and biocompatible synthetic polymers used as wound dressing materials, such as PVA, PCL, PLA, PLGA, PU, and PEO/PEG, focusing on their composition, fabrication techniques, and functions promoting wound healing. Additionally, the future development prospects of synthetic biodegradable polymer-based wound dressings are put forward. Our review aims to provide new insights for the further development of wound dressings using synthetic biodegradable polymers.

Applications and perspectives of quaternized cellulose, chitin and chitosan: A review

Recently, increasing attention has been paid to natural polysaccharides for their low cost, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Quaternization is a modification method to improve the solubility and antibacterial ability of natural polysaccharides. Water-soluble derivatives of cellulose, chitin and chitosan offer the prospect of diverse applications in a wide range of fields, such as antibacterial products, drug delivery, wound healing, sewage treatment and ion exchange membranes. By combining the inherent properties of cellulose, chitin and chitosan with the inherent properties of the quaternary ammonium groups, new products with multiple functions and properties can be obtained. In this review, we summarized the research progress in the applications of quaternized cellulose, chitin and chitosan in recent five years. Moreover, ubiquitous challenges and personal perspectives on the further development of this promising field are also discussed.

Chitosan: A Potential Biopolymer in Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications

Chitosan, a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide derived from chitin, has surfaced as a material of promise for drug delivery and biomedical applications. Different chitin and chitosan extraction techniques can produce materials with unique properties, which can be further modified to enhance their bioactivities. Chitosan-based drug delivery systems have been developed for various routes of administration, including oral, ophthalmic, transdermal, nasal, and vaginal, allowing for targeted and sustained release of drugs. Additionally, chitosan has been used in numerous biomedical applications, such as bone regeneration, cartilage tissue regeneration, cardiac tissue regeneration, corneal regeneration, periodontal tissue regeneration, and wound healing. Moreover, chitosan has also been utilized in gene delivery, bioimaging, vaccination, and cosmeceutical applications. Modified chitosan derivatives have been developed to improve their biocompatibility and enhance their properties, resulting in innovative materials with promising potentials in various biomedical applications. This article summarizes the recent findings on chitosan and its application in drug delivery and biomedical science.

A Chitosan-Based Flocculation Method for Efficient Recovery of High-Purity B-Phycoerythrin from a Low Concentration of Phycobilin in Wastewater

Increasing the yield and purity of B-phycoerythrin (B-PE) can improve the economic state of microalgae industrial processing. One method of cost reduction involves the recovery of remaining B-PE from wastewater. In this study, we developed a chitosan (CS)-based flocculation technique for the efficient recovery of B-PE from a low concentration of phycobilin in wastewater. We investigated the effects of the molecular weight of chitosan, B-PE/CS mass ratio, and solution pH on the flocculation efficiency of CS and the effects of phosphate buffer concentration and pH on the recovery rate of B-PE. The maximum flocculation efficiency of CS, recovery rate, and purity index of B-PE were 97.19% ± 0.59%, 72.07% ± 1.37%, and 3.20 ± 0.025 (drug grade), respectively. The structural stability and activity of B-PE were maintained during the recovery process. Economic evaluation revealed that our CS-based flocculation method is more economical than the ammonium sulfate precipitation method is. Furthermore, the bridging effect and electrostatic interaction play important roles in B-PE/CS complex flocculation process. Hence, our study provides an efficient and economical method to recover high-purity B-PE from a low concentration of phycobilin in wastewater, which promoted the application of B-PE as a natural pigment protein in food and chemical applications.

Environmentally friendly strategy to access self-healable, reprocessable and recyclable chitin, chitosan, and sodium alginate based polysaccharide-vitrimer hybrid materials

Natural polysaccharides show enviable advantages for preparation of sustainable hybrid materials. However, in most cases, complex chemical modifications of natural polysaccharides are required, which not only causes changes of the inherent properties of polysaccharides, but also increases the manufacturing costs of the final materials. Therefore, it is highly desired to develop efficient and low-cost ways to access polysaccharides-containing hybrid materials. In this work, we report the environmentally friendly preparation of a new kind of polysaccharide-based materials, called polysaccharide-vitrimer hybrid materials, for the first time. The vitrimer synthesis and hybridization with polysaccharides can be achieved via a convenient one-pot method in absence of solvent and catalyst. In addition, time-consuming and labor-intensive physical/chemical modifications of natural polysaccharides are completely avoided. The resultant hybrid materials show good mechanical performance (tensile toughness is up to 13.7 MJ/m³), high thermal stability (T_d,max is up to 457 °C), fast self-healing ability (self-healing efficiency is up to 99 % within 20s at 80 °C) and excellent reprocessability and recyclability (at least three cycles). Especially, conductive polysaccharide-vitrimer hybrid materials could be readily prepared from the resultant materials, exhibiting novel applications as flexible sensors and electromagnetic shielding materials (the EMI SE is up to 24.93 dB).

Whey Protein Isolate-Chitosan PolyElectrolyte Nanoparticles as a Drug Delivery System

Whey protein isolate (WPI), employed as a carrier for a wide range of bioactive substances, suffers from a lack of colloidal stability in physiological conditions. Herein, we developed innovative stabilized PolyElectrolyte Nanoparticles (PENs) obtained by two techniques: polyelectrolyte complexation of negatively charged WPI and positively charged chitosan (CS), and ionic gelation in the presence of polyanion tripolyphosphate (TPP). Therefore, the WPI-based core was coated with a CS-based shell and then stabilized by TPP at pH 8. The nanostructures were characterized by physiochemical methods, and their encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release were evaluated. The spherical NPs with an average size of 248.57 ± 5.00 nm and surface charge of +10.80 ± 0.43 mV demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency (92.79 ± 0.69) and sustained release of a positively charged chemotherapeutic agent such as doxorubicin (DOX). Z-average size and size distribution also presented negligible increases in size and aggregates during the three weeks. The results obtained confirm the effectiveness of the simultaneous application of these methods to improve the colloidal stability of PEN.

Cellulose-Chitosan Functional Biocomposites

Here, we present a detailed review of recent research and achievements in the field of combining two extremely important polysaccharides; namely, cellulose and chitosan. The most important properties of the two polysaccharides are outlined, giving rise to the interest in their combination. We present various structures and forms of composite materials that have been developed recently. Thus, aerogels, hydrogels, films, foams, membranes, fibres, and nanofibres are discussed, alongside the main techniques for their fabrication, such as coextrusion, co-casting, electrospinning, coating, and adsorption. It is shown that the combination of bacterial cellulose with chitosan has recently gained increasing attention. This is particularly attractive, because both are representative of a biopolymer that is biodegradable and friendly to humans and the environment. The rising standard of living and growing environmental awareness are the driving forces for the development of these materials. In this review, we have shown that the field of combining these two extraordinary polysaccharides is an inexhaustible source of ideas and opportunities for the development of advanced functional materials.

Biodegradable and antithrombogenic chitosan/elastin blended polyurethane electrospun membrane for vascular tissue integration

Current commercialized vascular membranes to treat coronary heart disease (CHD) such as Dacron and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) have been associated with biodegradable and thrombogenic issues that limit tissue integration. In this study, biodegradable vascular membranes were fabricated in a structure of electrospun nanofibers composed of polyurethane (PU), chitosan (CS) and elastin (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%). The physicochemical properties of the membranes were analyzed, followed by the conduction of several test analyses. The blending of CS and elastin has increased the fiber diameter, pore size and porosity percentage with the appearance of identical chemical groups. The wettability of PU membranes was enhanced up to 39.6%, demonstrating higher degradation following the incorporation of both natural polymers. The PU/CS/elastin electrospun membranes exhibited a controlled release of CS (Higuchi and first-order mechanisms) and elastin (Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas mechanisms). Delayed blood clotting time was observed through both activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and partial thromboplastin time (PT) analyses where significantly delay of 26.8% APTT was recorded on the PU membranes blended with CS and elastin, in comparison with the PU membranes, supporting the membrane's antithrombogenic properties. Besides, these membranes produced a minimum of 2.6 ± 0.1 low hemolytic percentage, projecting its hemocompatibility to be used as vascular membrane.

Review on biopolymers and composites - Evolving material as adsorbents in removal of environmental pollutants

The presence of pollutants and toxic contaminants in water sources makes it unfit to run through. Though various conventional techniques are on deck, development of new technologies are vital for wastewater treatment and recycling. Polymers have been intensively utilized recently in many industries owing to their unique characteristics. Biopolymers resembles natural alternative to synthetic polymers that can be prepared by linking the monomeric units covalently. Despite the obvious advantages of biopolymers, few reviews have been conducted. This review focuses on biopolymers and composites as suitable adsorbent material for removing pollutants present in environment. The classification of biopolymers and their composites based on the sources, methods of preparation and their potential applications are discussed in detail. Biopolymers have the potentiality of substituting conventional adsorbents due to its unique characteristics. Biopolymer based membranes and effective methods of utilization of biopolymers as suitable adsorbent materials are also briefly elaborated. The mechanism of biopolymers and their membrane-based adsorption has been briefly reviewed. In addition, the methods of regeneration and reuse of used biopolymer based adsorbents are highlighted. The comprehensive content on fate of biopolymer after adsorption is given in brief. Finally, this review concludes the future investigations in recent trends in application of biopolymer in various fields in view of eco-friendly and economic perspectives.

Sustainable Natural Bio-Origin Materials for Future Flexible Devices

Flexible devices serve as important intelligent interfaces in various applications involving health monitoring, biomedical therapies, and human-machine interfacing. To address the concern of electronic waste caused by the increasing usage of electronic devices based on synthetic polymers, bio-origin materials that possess environmental benignity as well as sustainability offer new opportunities for constructing flexible electronic devices with higher safety and environmental adaptivity. Herein, the bio-source and unique molecular structures of various types of natural bio-origin materials are briefly introduced. Their properties and processing technologies are systematically summarized. Then, the recent progress of these materials for constructing emerging intelligent flexible electronic devices including energy harvesters, energy storage devices, and sensors are introduced. Furthermore, the applications of these flexible electronic devices including biomedical implants, artificial e-skin, and environmental monitoring are summarized. Finally, future challenges and prospects for developing high-performance bio-origin material-based flexible devices are discussed. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic summary of the latest advances in the natural bio-origin material-based flexible devices, which is expected to offer inspirations for exploitation of green flexible electronics, bridging the gap in future human-machine-environment interactions.

Biomedical applications of carbohydrate-based polyurethane: From biosynthesis to degradation

The foremost common natural polymers are carbohydrate-based polymers or polysaccharides, having a long chain of monosaccharide or disaccharide units linked together via a glycosidic linkage to form a complex structure. There are several uses of carbohydrate-based polymers in biomedical sector due to its attractive features including less toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, high reactivity, availability, and relatively inexpensive. The aim of our study was to explore the synthetic approaches for the preparation of numerous carbohydrate-based polyurethanes (PUs) and their wide range of pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. The data summarized in this study shows that the addition of carbohydrates in the structural skeleton of PUs not only improve their suitability but also effect the applicability for employing them in biological applications. Carbohydrate-based units are incorporated into the PUs, which is the most convenient method for the synthesis of novel biocompatible and biodegradable carbohydrate-based PUs to use in various biomedical applications.

Effect of Molecular Weight and Nanoarchitecture of Chitosan and Polycaprolactone Electrospun Membranes on Physicochemical and Hemocompatible Properties for Possible Wound Dressing

Tissue engineering has focused on the development of biomaterials that emulate the native extracellular matrix. Therefore, the purpose of this research was oriented to the development of nanofibrillar bilayer membranes composed of polycaprolactone with low and medium molecular weight chitosan, evaluating their physicochemical and biological properties. Two-bilayer membranes were developed by an electrospinning technique considering the effect of chitosan molecular weight and parameter changes in the technique. Subsequently, the membranes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform spectroscopy, stress tests, permeability, contact angle, hemolysis evaluation, and an MTT test. From the results, it was found that changes in the electrospinning parameters and the molecular weight of chitosan influence the formation, fiber orientation, and nanoarchitecture of the membranes. Likewise, it was evidenced that a higher molecular weight of chitosan in the bilayer membranes increases the stiffness and favors polar anchor points. This increased Young's modulus, wettability, and permeability, which, in turn, influenced the reduction in the percentage of cell viability and hemolysis. It is concluded that the development of biomimetic bilayer nanofibrillar membranes modulate the physicochemical properties and improve the hemolytic behavior so they can be used as a hemocompatible biomaterial.

Synthesis of Biobased and Hybrid Polyurethane Xerogels from Bacterial Polyester for Potential Biomedical Applications

Organic-inorganic xerogel networks were synthesized from bacterial poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) for potential biomedical applications. Since silane-based networks usually demonstrate increased biocompatibility and mechanical properties, siloxane groups have been added onto polyurethane (PU) architectures. In this work, a diol oligomer (oligoPHB-diol) was first prepared from bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with an environmentally friendly method. Then, hexamethylene diisocyanate or biobased dimeryl diisocyanate was used as diisocyanate to react with the short oligoPHB-diol for the synthesis of different NCO-terminated PU systems in a bulk process and without catalyst. Various PU systems containing increasing NCO/OH molar ratios were prepared. Siloxane precursors were then obtained after reaction of the NCO-terminated PUs with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, resulting in silane-terminated polymers. These structures were confirmed by different analytical techniques. Finally, four series of xerogels were prepared via a sol-gel process from the siloxane precursors, and their properties were evaluated depending on varying parameters such as the inorganic network crosslinking density. The final xerogels exhibited adequate properties in connection with biomedical applications such as a high in vitro degradation up to 15 wt% after 12 weeks.

Production and Characterization of Chitooligosaccharides: Evaluation of Acute Toxicity, Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory Actions

The search for promising biomolecules such as chitooligosaccharides (COS) has increased due to the need for healing products that act efficiently, avoiding complications resulting from exacerbated inflammation. Therefore, this study aimed to produce COS in two stages of hydrolysis using chitosanases derived from Bacillus toyonensis. Additionally, this study aimed to structurally characterize the COS via mass spectrometry, to analyze their biocompatibility in acute toxicity models in vivo, to evaluate their healing action in a cell migration model in vitro, to analyze the anti-inflammatory activity in in vivo models of xylol-induced ear edema and zymosan-induced air pouch, and to assess the wound repair action in vivo. The structural characterization process pointed out the presence of hexamers. The in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility of COS was reaffirmed. The COS stimulated the fibroblast migration. In the in vivo inflammatory assays, COS showed an antiedematogenic response and significant reductions in leukocyte migration, cytokine release, and protein exudate. The COS healing effect in vivo was confirmed by the significant wound reduction after seven days of the experiment. These results indicated that the presence of hexamers influences the COS biological properties, which have potential uses in the pharmaceutical field due to their healing and anti-inflammatory action.

Facile fabrication and nanoscale assembly of polydopamine-functionalized, flexible chitosan films

Substrates that are simultaneously thin, strong, optically transparent, and biocompatible have diverse applications in a range of fundamental and applied fields. While nature-derived materials offer advantages of sustainability and inherent biocompatibility compared to synthetic polymers, their brittleness and swelling, as well as surface charge and chemical functionalization non-conducive to cell growth, can hinder widespread application. In this work, we discuss the fabrication and systematic characterization of polydopamine-coated chitosan thin films. Chitosan is a widely used, partially deacetylated form of chitin, derived from crustaceans and arthropods. Polydopamine (PDA) is derived from chemistries mimicking mussel foot adhesive proteins. A facile dip-coating process of thin and flexible, uncrosslinked chitosan films in aqueous dopamine solutions leads to dramatic changes in physical and chemical properties. We show how the PDA forms time-dependent assemblies on the film surfaces, affecting surface roughness, hydrophilicity, and mechanical strength. Coating the surface for even a few seconds provides functional changes to the films. Our results shows that the optimal coating time is on the order of few hours, whereby the films are optically transparent with excellent extensibility and Young’s modulus, while further coating reduces the benefits of this surface coating. These materials are biocompatible, serving as substrates for cell adhesion and growth while maintaining good viability. Overall, these findings give insight to the effects of PDA assembly on surfaces, and illustrate how a simple, quick, and robust bioinspired coating process can prime substrates for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, biosensing, and wound healing.

"Size or mass" which plays a role? An investigation on the optical and ultrasonic properties of chitosan-lanthanide composites

In this present exploration, chitosan doped with different lanthanide oxides such as CeO₂, Nd₂O₃, Sm₂O₃, Eu₂O₃, Gd₂O₃, Dy₂O₃ and Ho₂O₃ has been prepared and its optical and thermodynamical properties were studied as a function of the ion size of the lanthanide element and its atomic masses. From the refractive index measurement, the space-filling factor and polarizability have been obtained. The propagation of ultrasonic waves like ultrasonic velocity and its derived quantities such as relaxation strength (r_s), adiabatic bulk modulus (K_s), acoustic impedance (Z) and adiabatic compressibility (β) have been obtained for different Chitosan-Lanthanide oxides (Ch-LnO). FTIR studies confirm the formation of different Ch-LnO. The variation of all the said properties with ion size is opposite to that of atomic mass due to lanthanide contraction. The results are presented and discussed in a detailed manner.

Preparation and characterization of guar gum based polyurethanes

Guar gum (plant-based polysaccharide) is a promising candidate with immense potential. It is used as emulsifier, thickener, stabilizer, and as binding agent in many industries. In the present project, it was planned to synthesize guar gum based polyurethanes by varying the amount of guar gum. Guar gum (GG) was used along with hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) as soft segment, which was then reacted with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) to form PU pre-polymers. In last step, these -NCO terminated pre-polymers were extended with 1,4 butane diol as chain extender. The prepared polyurethane samples were then characterized by using FTIR, solid-state ¹HNMR and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thermal behavior of the samples was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results indicated that the incorporation of guar gum in PU backbone improved its thermal behavior and crystallinity.

Polysaccharide-Based Materials Created by Physical Processes: From Preparation to Biomedical Applications

Polysaccharide-based materials created by physical processes have received considerable attention for biomedical applications. These structures are often made by associating charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions, avoiding toxic chemistries (crosslinking agents). We review the principal polysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans, marine polysaccharides, and derivatives) containing ionizable groups in their structures and cellulose (neutral polysaccharide). Physical materials with high stability in aqueous media can be developed depending on the selected strategy. We review strategies, including coacervation, ionotropic gelation, electrospinning, layer-by-layer coating, gelation of polymer blends, solvent evaporation, and freezing-thawing methods, that create polysaccharide-based assemblies via in situ (one-step) methods for biomedical applications. We focus on materials used for growth factor (GFs) delivery, scaffolds, antimicrobial coatings, and wound dressings.

Gamma radiation-induced grafting of poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate) onto chitosan: A comprehensive study of a polyurethane scaffold intended for skin tissue engineering

A novel brush-like poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate) (PAEMA) was grafted onto chitosan (CS) through gamma radiation-induced polymerization. The copolymer (CS-g-PAEMA) was used to prepare a sodium acetate leached poly(urethane-urea) scaffold. The above derivatives were developed, synthesized, and characterized to meet the specific characteristics of biomaterials. The results revealed that this method is an easy and successful route for grafting PAEMA onto CS. The feasibility of preparing a CS-g-PAEMA polyurethane foam was confirmed by mechanical, morphometric, spectroscopic, and cytotoxic studies. The scaffold showed high biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. The first experiment proved that CS-based polyurethane efficiently allows the dynamic culturing of human fibroblast cells. Additionally, an in vivo study in a murine model indicated a complete integration of the scaffold to surrounding subcutaneous tissue as supported by the histological and histochemical assessments. The aforementioned results support the use of CS-g-PAEMA poly(saccharide-urethane) as a model of in vitro-engineered skin.

Bioresponsive Functional Phenylboronic Acid-Based Delivery System as an Emerging Platform for Diabetic Therapy

The glucose-sensitive self-adjusting drug delivery system simulates the physiological model of the human pancreas-secreting insulin and then precisely regulates the release of hypoglycemic drugs and controls the blood sugar. Thus, it has good application prospects in the treatment of diabetes. Presently, there are three glucose-sensitive drug systems: phenylboronic acid (PBA) and its derivatives, concanavalin A (Con A), and glucose oxidase (GOD). Among these, the glucose-sensitive polymer carrier based on PBA has the advantages of better stability, long-term storage, and reversible glucose response, and the loading of insulin in it can achieve the controlled release of drugs in the human environment. Therefore, it has become a research hotspot in recent years and has been developed very rapidly. In order to further carry out a follow-up study, we focused on the development process, performance, and application of PBA and its derivatives-based glucose-sensitive polymer drug carriers, and the prospects for the development of this field.

Preparation and encapsulation techniques of chitosan microsphere for enhanced bioavailability of natural antioxidants

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), induced by medical and life irradiation, have led to diverse diseases. Natural antioxidants (NAs) have been widely used to protect the body from the harmful effects of ROS. NAs have biocompatible properties but their bioavailability in the body is very low. This article discusses possible solutions to improve the bioavailability using several preparation and encapsulation techniques for microspheres using chitosan as a carrier. The first is the emulsion technique that controls particle size (0.5-1000 μm) according to the speed (RPM) of the agitator. The second technique discussed is spray drying-a very simple method that can control particle size (5-5000 μm) according to the nozzle size and discharge pressure. The third is the extrusion technique, which can control particle size (250-2500 μm) according to the syringe pore size. These techniques have enormous potential for use as drug delivery systems (DDS) in the functional food and biomedical field industries.

Establishment of a stable complex formed from whey protein isolate and chitosan and its stability under environmental stresses

This study aimed to investigate the stability of a complex formed with whey protein isolate (WPI) and chitosan under environmental stress. The optical density, particle size, zeta potential, chemical characteristics, electrostatic interactions, and surface morphology were evaluated for the stable complexes; the optimum conditions for the generation of the stable complex were 0.2% (wt/wt) whey protein with 0.05% (wt/wt) chitosan at pH 5.7. Under these conditions, the complex particle size was 217.8 ± 11.3 nm and the zeta potential was 16.7 ± 0.92 mV. The complex was formed through electrostatic interactions between the amine groups of chitosan (-NH₃⁺) and carboxyl groups of whey protein (-COO^-), and contained a porous network interspaced by heterogeneously sized vacuoles. The complex displayed stable physiochemical characteristics under environmental stresses including NaCl (0-75 mM) or sugar (0-5%) at ambient temperature and upon heating for 15 min at 25-65 °C, up to 65 °C for 30 min. Moreover, the complex could be stably stored for 30 d at 4 °C and for 20 d at 25 °C. The present results provide theoretical insights into the industrial production of chitosan-protein complexes and for microencapsulation of sensitive food or medicinal ingredients to increase their intestinal absorption.

Biologically active Co (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) centered water soluble novel isoniazid grafted O-carboxymethyl chitosan Schiff base ligand metal complexes: Synthesis, spectral characterisation and DNA nuclease activity

In this study, the new N, N, O tridentate donor water soluble isoniazid based biopolymer Schiff base ligand and their Co (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) metal complexes were prepared. The compounds were designed for potential biological application such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, total antioxidant, antidiabetic and DNA binding studies. The synthesized compounds were illuminated in different light sources of various spectra were used to explore the functional groups of Biopolymer derivatives. Thermal degradation, thermal stability and percentage of mass loss for the prepared compounds were investigated through thermo gravimetric and differential thermal (TGA-DTA) analyses. Crystalline structure of synthesized biopolymer derivatives were explored by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, the crystallinity of chitosan is gradually decreased after the Schiff base and complex formation. Surface morphology and structures of the prepared compounds were examined using SEM analysis. The magnetic moment and magnetism of the metal complexes were studied using Vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM). Antidiabetic studies of Biopolymer Schiff base and metal complexes were carried out by α-amylose inhibitory method. DNA nuclease activities of synthesized metal complexes were investigated by Ultra-Violet (UV) and viscometry methods. The Cu (II) complexes showed better DNA binding results than Co (II) and Zn (II) complexes.

Recent advances in tissue engineering scaffolds based on polyurethane and modified polyurethane

Organ repair, regeneration, and transplantation are constantly in demand due to various acute, chronic, congenital, and infectious diseases. Apart from traditional remedies, tissue engineering (TE) is among the most effective methods for the repair of damaged tissues via merging the cells, growth factors, and scaffolds. With regards to TE scaffold fabrication technology, polyurethane (PU), a high-performance medical grade synthetic polymer and bioactive material has gained significant attention. PU possesses exclusive biocompatibility, biodegradability, and modifiable chemical, mechanical and thermal properties, owing to its unique structure-properties relationship. During the past few decades, PU TE scaffold bioactive properties have been incorporated or enhanced with biodegradable, electroactive, surface-functionalised, ayurvedic products, ceramics, glass, growth factors, metals, and natural polymers, resulting in the formation of modified polyurethanes (MPUs). This review focuses on the recent advances of PU/MPU scaffolds, especially on the biomedical applications in soft and hard tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The scientific issues with regards to the PU/MPU scaffolds, such as biodegradation, electroactivity, surface functionalisation, and incorporation of active moieties are also highlighted along with some suggestions for future work.

Chitin and its derivatives: Structural properties and biomedical applications

Chitin, a polysaccharide that occurs abundantly in nature after cellulose, has attracted the interest of the scientific community due to its plenty of availability and low cost. Mostly, it is derived from the exoskeleton of insects and marine crustaceans. Often, it is insoluble in common solvents that limit its applications but its deacetylated product, named chitosan is found to be soluble in protonated aqueous medium and used widely in various biomedical fields. Indeed, the existence of the primary amino group on the backbone of chitosan provides it an important feature to modify it chemically into other derivatives easily. In the present review, we present the structural properties of chitin, and its derivatives and highlighted their biomedical implications including, tissue engineering, drug delivery, diagnosis, molecular imaging, antimicrobial activity, and wound healing. We further discussed the limitations and prospects of this versatile natural polysaccharide.

The Effect of Chitosan on the Chemical Structure, Morphology, and Selected Properties of Polyurethane/Chitosan Composites

Materials science is an interdisciplinary area of studies. This science focuses on the influence of the physico-chemical properties of materials on their application in human everyday lives. The materials’ synthesis should be developed in accordance with sustainable development. Polyurethanes (PUR) represent a significant consumption of plastic in the world. Modification of PUR, e.g., with polysaccharide of natural origin (chitosan, Chit), should have a positive effect on their functional properties and degradability in the natural environment. The basic parameters affecting the scope and direction of changes are the size and quantity of the chitosan particles. The impact assessment of chitosan on the chemical structure, morphology, thermal properties, crystallinity, mechanical properties, flammability, water sorption, adsorption properties, degradability, and biological activity of PUR/Chit composites (without other additives) is discussed in this article. To the best of our knowledge, recent literature does not contain a study discussing the direct impact of the presence of chitosan in the structure of PUR/Chit composite on its properties, regardless of the intended uses. This paper provides an overview of publications, which presents the results of a study on the effect of adding chitosan in polyurethane/chitosan composites without other additives on the properties of polyurethane.

Highly swellable hydrogel of regioselectively aminated (1→3)-α-d-glucan crosslinked with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether

(1→3)-α-d-glucan synthesized by glucosyltransferase J (GtfJ) cloned from Streptococcus salivarius was regioselectively aminated as 6-amino-6-deoxy-(1→3)-α-d-glucan (aminoglucan) through three steps: bromination, azidation, and reduction. The degree of substitution of the amino group was determined by elemental analysis to be 0.97 and the molecular weight was 3.74×10⁴ as measured by size exclusion chromatography. The regioselective amination at the C6 position of every pyranose ring was confirmed by ¹H/¹³C NMR and solid state ¹⁵N cross polarization/magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy. Aminoglucan was characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Solubility of aminoglucan in various solvents was investigated and confirmed in aqueous solution at pH ≤ 11. Therefore, aminoglucan was crosslinked with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) by an epoxy-ring opening reaction under alkaline conditions. The obtained EGDE-crosslinked aminoglucan hydrogels were highly swellable in water owing to a strong water-holding ability and no water was released on compression and breaking of the gels.

Water-based non-isocyanate polyurethane-ureas (NIPUUs)

This review aims at discussing the achievements and the remaining challenges in the development of water-soluble NIPUUs, NIPUUs-based hydrogels and water-borne NIPUU dispersions.

RNA Nanotechnology-Mediated Cancer Immunotherapy

RNA molecules (e.g., siRNA, microRNA, and mRNA) have shown tremendous potential for immunomodulation and cancer immunotherapy. They can activate both innate and adaptive immune system responses by silencing or upregulating immune-relevant genes. In addition, mRNA-based vaccines have recently been actively pursued and tested in cancer patients, as a form of treatment. Meanwhile, various nanomaterials have been developed to enhance RNA delivery to the tumor and immune cells. In this review article, we summarize recent advances in the development of RNA-based therapeutics and their applications in cancer immunotherapy. We also highlight the variety of nanoparticle platforms that have been used for RNA delivery to elicit anti-tumor immune responses. Finally, we provide our perspectives of potential challenges and opportunities of RNA-based nanotherapeutics in clinical translation towards cancer immunotherapy.

Morphology and Physicochemical Properties of Branched Polyurethane/Biopolymer Blends

The aim of this study is the analyze the structure of branched polyurethanes based on synthetic poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) and their blends with biopolymers and montmorillonite. The properties which would predict the potential susceptibility of these materials to degradation are also estimated. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection analysis shows that poly([d,l]-lactide) is on the surfaces of polyurethanes, whereas chitosan and starch are included inside the blend network. Atomic force microscopy images have shown that the surfaces of investigated samples are heterogenous with the formation of spherulites in case of pure polyurethanes. The presence of biopolymers in the blend reduced the crystallinity of polyurethanes. Thermal stability of blends of polyurethanes with poly([d,l]-lactide) and polysaccharides decreased in comparison to pure polyurethanes. Although the tensile strength is reduced after the blending of polyurethanes with biopolymers, the elongation at break increased, especially in the case of polyurethane/poly([d,l]-lactide) blends. The presence of polysaccharides in the obtained blends caused the significant reduction of contact angle after one minute from water drop immersion. This hydrophilizing effect is the highest when montmorillonite has been incorporated into the chitosan blend. The estimated properties of the obtained materials suggest their potential sensitivity on environmental conditions.

Conductive biomass-based composite wires with cross-linked anionic nanocellulose and cationic nanochitin as scaffolds

In this study, a series of conductive composite wires were successfully prepared by combining dispersions of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs) with different MWCNTs contents into a dispersion of partially deacetylated α-chitin nanofibers (α-DECHNs) followed with a drying process. The TOCNFs/MWCNTs/α-DECHNs composite wires were prepared by extruding the negatively charged TOCNFs/MWCNTs dispersion into the positively charged α-DECHNs dispersion. The contact of the positively charged α-DECHNs and the negatively charged TOCNFs/MWCNTs triggers the electrostatic interaction (heterocoagulation) resulting in wire-shaped conductive composites. The SEM analysis indicates this conductive composite material has a wire-like shape with a rough but tight surface. The properties of samples were characterized by a zeta potential analyzer (Zetasizer Nano), a four-probe, an electrochemical workstation, a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and a thermogravimetric analyzer (TG). Besides, the conductivity and the AC impedance of TOCNFs/MWCNTs/α-DECHNs composite wires with different MWCNTs contents were also analyzed. The conductivity of the composite wire increases from 9.98 × 10^-6 S∙cm^-1 to 1.56 × 10^-3 S∙cm^-1 as the MWCNTs content raises from 3.0 wt% to 14.0 wt%. When the MWCNTs content reaches 14.0 wt%, the prepared composite wire can light up LED at a voltage of 5 V, indicating the great potential of this biomass-based conductive composite in conductive material application.

Biochemical aspects of lipase immobilization at polysaccharides for biotechnology

The design of immobilized enzyme preparations is an important and relevant area of modern sciences and technologies. Immobilization of enzymes from animal sources (component I) on natural carriers (component II) increases the system stability by protecting the active site of the enzyme from deactivation; facilitates the separation and accelerates the recovery of the enzyme. This makes reuse possible and provides a significant reduction in operating costs. Hydrolytic enzymes (such as lipases) and polysaccharides (such as chitosan) are the most promising of such pairs of components. The main attention here is devoted to the discussion on lipase immobilization on polysaccharide (mainly - chitin and chitosan). Based on the analysis of the available literature, the most adequate method is the immobilization of lipase from porcine pancreas (LPP) on polysaccharide particles (such as chitin or chitosan) pre-treated with ultrasound (to increase the particle surface area) and glutaraldehyde (for particle activation) that shows reasonably high LPP activity and stability. In order to increase further the activity of the lipase, some authors proposed to incorporate a spacer in the form of 1,3-diaminopropane (or 1,3-diaminobutane) prior to activation of the surface of the chitosan particles. In particular cases, the use of chitin (instead of chitosan) may be an alternative solution for biotechnological applications. Recently the idea of constructing "supramolecular enzyme systems" realized in the so-called "coimmobilized multienzymatic systems" strategy. The most fascinating example is the combined assay of a mixture of native LPP, glycerol kinase (from Cellulomonas) and glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase (from Aerococcus viridans) linked by glutaraldehyde to chitosan (as shell for inorganic nanoparticle core). This material was placed on a Pt-electrode as biosensor and was successfully applied for amperometric determination of the triglyceride level in the serum of healthy and diseased person. Thus, the whole innovative research-production sequence is described by Aggarwal V. and Pundir C.S.: from simple components to advanced material and further biomedical application. Thus, the following approach of lipase immobilization appears the most promising for future applications: a few types of lipases or the combination of LPP with some other enzymes immobilized simultaneously on multifunctional carriers (as nanohybrids of inorganic core and polysaccharide shell).

Designing a castor oil-based polyurethane as bioadhesive

Based on the stealth behavior of castor oil and poly(ethylene glycol), we selected a polyurethane system to obtain an ideal surgical adhesive. The polyurethane adhesives with varying concentrations of castor oil were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, goniometer, and universal testing machine. Curing results show that a 7-min to 25-min room temperature curing can be achieved, providing one possibility of shortening the surgery time. In vitro biodegradation test demonstrates that a certain proportion of the polyurethane film will be hydrolyzed in a foregone manner after a period of time (7 weeks). The adhesion strengths of these adhesives show a strong bonding between pieces of tissue, which makes them qualified for application in a moist environment.