Alginate-Based Platforms for Cancer-Targeted Drug Delivery

Unveiling the potential of alginate-based nanomaterials in sensing technology and smart delivery applications

Sensors are applied to many fields nowadays because of their high sensitivity, low cost, time-saving, user-friendly, and excellent selectivity. Current biomedical and pharmaceutical science has one focus on developing nanoparticle-based sensors, especially biopolymeric nanoparticles. Alginate is a widely used biopolymer in a variety of applications. The hydrogel-forming characteristic, the chemical structure with hydroxy and carboxylate moieties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and water solubility of alginate have expanded opportunities in material and biomedical sciences. Recently, research on alginate-based nanoparticles and their applications has begun. These materials are gaining popularity because of their wide usage potential in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Many review papers describe applications of alginate in the drug delivery field. The current study covers the structural and physicochemical properties of alginate-based nanoparticles. The prospective applications of alginate-based nanomaterials in various domains are discussed, including drug delivery and environmental sensing applications for humidity, heavy metals, and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, biomedical sensing applications of alginate-based nanoparticles regarding various analytes such as glucose, cancer cells, pharmaceutical drugs, and human motion will also be reviewed in this paper. Future research scopes highlight existing challenges and solutions.

Oral co-polymeric raft-forming nano gels for targeted empagliflozin delivery against stomach cancer (SGC7901)

Empagliflozin (EMP) is known for its poor safety and efficacy profile due to its fast body distribution and poor solubility. Accordingly, an oral long-acting and floating/raft-forming nano gel was optimized to release coated EMP nanoparticles, and the released EMP nanoparticles showed enhanced dissolution compared to raw EMP particles. To repurpose EMP for cancer treatment, EMP shows anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects against cancer cells. EMP nanoparticles were characterized using FT-IR, PXRD, SEM, EMP encapsulation assay, and release studies. The raft-forming gel encapsulating the EMP was optimized and characterized. The EMP co-polymeric nanoparticles were studied to investigate EMP anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities against stomach cancer cells. The solubility of EMP nanoparticles was enhanced in 0.1 N HCl and pH 6.8 by 5 and 12 folds, respectively, compared to raw EMP powder. The particle size and zeta-potential values of improved EMP nanoparticles were 135.40 ± 18.60 nm, and -19.30 ± 0.80 mV, respectively. FT-IR, PXRD, SEM and TEM characterizations revealed polymeric coating of EMP particles. The study suggested that this optimized controlled-release raft-forming gel is a promising local oral approach against stomach cancer. The repurposing of EMP co-polymeric nanoparticles for stomach cancer and associated gastritis treatment was justified.

pH-responsive self-assembled nanoparticles for tumor-targeted drug delivery

Recent advances in the field of drug delivery have opened new avenues for the development of novel nanodrug delivery systems (NDDS) in cancer therapy. Self-assembled nanoparticles (SANPs) based on tumour microenvironment have great advantages in improving antitumor effect, and pH-responsive SANPs prepared by the combination of pH-responsive nanomaterials and self-assembly technology can effectively improve the efficacy and reduce the systemic toxicity of antitumor drugs. In this review, we describe the characteristics of self-assembly and its driving force, the mechanism of pH-responsive NDDS, and the nanomaterials for pH-responsive SANPs type. A series of pH-responsive SANPs for tumour-targeted drug delivery are discussed, with an emphasis on the relation between structural features and theranostic performance.

Glycan-based scaffolds and nanoparticles as drug delivery system in cancer therapy

Glycan-based scaffolds are unique in their high specificity, versatility, low immunogenicity, and ability to mimic natural carbohydrates, making them attractive candidates for use in cancer treatment. These scaffolds are made up of glycans, which are biopolymers with well biocompatibility in the human body that can be used for drug delivery. The versatility of glycan-based scaffolds allows for the modulation of drug activity and targeted delivery to specific cells or tissues, which increases the potency of drugs and reduces side effects. Despite their promise, there are still technical challenges in the design and production of glycan-based scaffolds, as well as limitations in their therapeutic efficacy and specificity.

Alginate Nanoparticles Containing Cuminum cyminum and Zataria multiflora Essential Oils with Promising Anticancer and Antibacterial Effects

Cancer and bacterial infections are major global health concerns driving the need for innovative medicines. This study investigated alginate nanoparticles loaded with essential oils (EOs) from Cuminum cyminum and Zataria multiflora as potential drug delivery systems. The nanoparticles were comprehensively characterized using techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zetasizer, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Their biological properties against two human skin cancer cell lines (A-375 and A-431) and three bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus) were also evaluated. Alginate nanoparticles containing C. cyminum and Z. multiflora EOs exhibited sizes of 160 ± 8 nm and 151 ± 10 nm, respectively. Their zeta potentials and encapsulation efficiencies were -18 ± 1 mV and 79 ± 4%, as well as -27 ± 2 mV and 86 ± 5%, respectively. The IC50 values against the tested cell lines and bacteria revealed superior efficacy for nanoparticles containing Z. multiflora EO. Considering the proper efficacy of the proposed nanoparticles, the straightforward preparation method and low cost suggest their potential for further in vivo studies.

Astaxanthin-loaded alginate-chitosan gel beads activate Nrf2 and pro-apoptotic signalling pathways against oxidative stress

Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in disease development. Astaxanthin (ATX), a valuable natural compound, may reduce OS and serve as a treatment for diseases like neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates antioxidant enzymes and OS management. We evaluated ATX's antioxidant activity via Alg-CS/ATX gel beads in vitro. ATX-encapsulated alginate-chitosan (Alg-CS/ATX) gel beads were synthesized and structurally/morphologically characterized by SEM, FT-IR, and XRD. Their biological effects were examined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with H2O2 through MTT assay, Annexin V/PI, cell cycle studies, and western blotting. Alg-CS effectively carried ATX, with high capacity and reduced pore size. Alg-CS/ATX displayed an 84% encapsulation efficiency, maintaining stability for 30 days. In vitro studies showed a 1.4-fold faster release at pH 5.4 than at neutral pH, improving ATX's therapeutic potential. HUVECs treated with Alg-CS/ATX showed enhanced viability via increased Nrf2 expression. Alg-CS gel beads exhibit significant potential as a biocompatible vehicle for delivering ATX to combat OS with considerable opportunity for clinical applications.

Near infrared-emitting multimodal nanosystem for in vitro magnetic hyperthermia of hepatocellular carcinoma and dual imaging of in vivo liver fibrosis

Prolonged usage of traditional nanomaterials in the biological field has posed several short- and long-term toxicity issues. Over the past few years, smart nanomaterials (SNs) with controlled physical, chemical, and biological features have been synthesized in an effort to allay these challenges. The current study seeks to develop theranostic SNs based on iron oxide to enable simultaneous magnetic hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for chronic liver damage like liver fibrosis which is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. To accomplish this, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were prepared, coated with a biocompatible and naturally occurring polysaccharide, alginate. The resultant material, ASPIONs were evaluated in terms of physicochemical, magnetic and biological properties. A hydrodynamic diameter of 40 nm and a transverse proton relaxation rate of 117.84 mM-1 s-1 pronounces the use of ASPIONs as an efficient MRI contrast agent. In the presence of alternating current of 300 A, ASPIONs could elevate the temperature to 45 °C or more, with the possibility of hyperthermia based therapeutic approach. Magnetic therapeutic and imaging potential of ASPIONs were further evaluated respectively in vitro and in vivo in HepG2 carcinoma cells and animal models of liver fibrosis, respectively. Finally, to introduce dual imaging capability along with magnetic properties, ASPIONs were conjugated with near infrared (NIR) dye Atto 700 and evaluated its optical imaging efficiency in animal model of liver fibrosis. Histological analysis further confirmed the liver targeting efficacy of the developed SNs for Magnetic theranostics and optical imaging as well as proved its short-term safety, in vivo.

Revolutionizing the Use of Honeybee Products in Healthcare: A Focused Review on Using Bee Pollen as a Potential Adjunct Material for Biomaterial Functionalization

The field of biomedical engineering highly demands technological improvements to allow the successful engraftment of biomaterials requested for healing damaged host tissues, tissue regeneration, and drug delivery. Polymeric materials, particularly natural polymers, are one of the primary suitable materials employed and functionalized to enhance their biocompatibility and thus confer advantageous features after graft implantation. Incorporating bioactive substances from nature is a good technique for expanding or increasing the functionality of biomaterial scaffolds, which may additionally encourage tissue healing. Our ecosystem provides natural resources, like honeybee products, comprising a rich blend of phytochemicals with interesting bioactive properties, which, when functionally coupled with biomedical biomaterials, result in the biomaterial exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects. Bee pollen is a sustainable product recently discovered as a new functionalizing agent for biomaterials. This review aims to articulate the general idea of using honeybee products for biomaterial engineering, mainly focusing on describing recent literature on experimental studies on biomaterials functionalized with bee pollen. We have also described the underlying mechanism of the bioactive attributes of bee pollen and shared our perspective on how future biomedical research will benefit from the fabrication of such functionalized biomaterials.

Alginate: Microbial production, functionalization, and biomedical applications

Alginates are natural polysaccharides widely participating in food, pharmaceutical, and environmental applications due to their excellent gelling capacity. Their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability further extend their application to biomedical fields. The low consistency in molecular weight and composition of algae-based alginates may limit their performance in advanced biomedical applications. It makes microbial alginate production more attractive due to its potential for customizing alginate molecules with stable characteristics. Production costs remain the primary factor limiting the commercialization of microbial alginates. However, carbon-rich wastes from sugar, dairy, and biodiesel industries may serve as potential substitutes for pure sugars for microbial alginate production to reduce substrate costs. Fermentation parameter control and genetic engineering strategies may further improve the production efficiency and customize the molecular composition of microbial alginates. To meet the specific needs of biomedical applications, alginates may need functionalization, such as functional group modifications and crosslinking treatments, to achieve enhanced mechanical properties and biochemical activities. The development of alginate-based composites incorporated with other polysaccharides, gelatin, and bioactive factors can integrate the advantages of each component to meet multiple requirements in wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering applications. This review provided a comprehensive insight into the sustainable production of high-value microbial alginates. It also discussed recent advances in alginate modification strategies and alginate-based composites for representative biomedical applications.

Structures, Properties, and Bioengineering Applications of Alginates and Hyaluronic Acid

In recent years, polymeric materials have been used in a wide range of applications in a variety of fields. In particular, in the field of bioengineering, the use of natural biomaterials offers a possible new avenue for the development of products with better biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. This paper reviews the structural and physicochemical properties of alginate and hyaluronic acid, as well as the applications of the modified cross-linked derivatives in tissue engineering and drug delivery. This paper summarizes the application of alginate and hyaluronic acid in bone tissue engineering, wound dressings, and drug carriers. We provide some ideas on how to replace or combine alginate-based composites with hyaluronic-acid-based composites in tissue engineering and drug delivery to achieve better eco-economic value.

Fabrication of polydopamine reduced CuO nanoparticle-alginate composite nanogels for management of Pseudomonas synringae pv. tabaci in tobacco

BACKGROUND

The wildfire disease on tobacco can seriously hinder plants. Meanwhile, its pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae, can also infect over 200 plants and threat agriculture production. However, the disease usually occurs after summer rains which washes away most copper (Cu)-based bactericides, allowing the disease to invade. Therefore, we fabricate a new nanogel with high disease control and anti-erosion ability and study the effects of the reductant on the performance of the copper oxide nanoparticle (CuONP) composite nanogel.

RESULTS

Polydopamine (PDA) is a polycation for both in situ reduction of CuONP in alginate nanogels and for adjusting the copper ion (Cu²⁺ ) releasing rate in this work. The composite nanogel fabricated by PDA (PDA-CuONP@ALGNP@CTAC) had a higher Cu²⁺ releasing rate, damaging the pathogen membrane more efficiently, allowing for better disease control and plant growth promotion when compared to sodium borohydride (SBH)-fabricated nanogel (SBH-CuONP@ALGNP@CTAC) or the commercial bactericide, thiodiazole copper. The PDA-CuONP@ALGNP@CTAC had a high anti-erosion ability and could remain adhered to the leaf surface even after five rain event simulations.

CONCLUSION

The addition of polycations (like PDA) into CuONP composite nanogel could increase the Cu²⁺ releasing rate, resulting in improved disease management when compared to SBH-CuONP@ALGNP@CTAC or thiodiazole copper. The PDA containing gel had an improved anti-erosion ability and water resistance. This new composite nanogel has a high potential for wildfire disease control, improving agricultural production. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Sustainable Solution to Skin Diseases: Ecofriendly Transdermal Patches

Skin is the largest epithelial surface of the human body, with a surface area of 2 m2 for the average adult human. Being an external organ, it is susceptible to more than 3000 potential skin diseases, including injury, inflammation, microbial and viral infections, and skin cancer. Due to its nature, it offers a large accessible site for administrating several medications against these diseases. The dermal and transdermal delivery of such medications are often ensured by utilizing dermal/transdermal patches or microneedles made of biocompatible and biodegradable materials. These tools provide controlled delivery of drugs to the site of action in a rapid and therapeutically effective manner with enhanced diffusivity and minimal side effects. Regrettably, they are usually fabricated using synthetic materials with possible harmful environmental effects. Manufacturing such tools using green synthesis routes and raw materials is hence essential for both ecological and economic sustainability. In this review, natural materials including chitosan/chitin, alginate, keratin, gelatin, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, pectin, and collagen utilized in designing ecofriendly patches will be explored. Their implementation in wound healing, skin cancer, inflammations, and infections will be discussed, and the significance of these studies will be evaluated with future perspectives.

Advancements in nanoparticle-based treatment approaches for skin cancer therapy

Skin cancer has emerged as the fifth most commonly reported cancer in the world, causing a burden on global health and the economy. The enormously rising environmental changes, industrialization, and genetic modification have further exacerbated skin cancer statistics. Current treatment modalities such as surgery, radiotherapy, conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are facing several issues related to cost, toxicity, and bioavailability thereby leading to declined anti-skin cancer therapeutic efficacy and poor patient compliance. In the context of overcoming this limitation, several nanotechnological advancements have been witnessed so far. Among various nanomaterials, nanoparticles have endowed exorbitant advantages by acting as both therapeutic agents and drug carriers for the remarkable treatment of skin cancer. The small size and large surface area to volume ratio of nanoparticles escalate the skin tumor uptake through their leaky vasculature resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In this context, the present review provides up to date information about different types and pathology of skin cancer, followed by their current treatment modalities and associated drawbacks. Furthermore, it meticulously discusses the role of numerous inorganic, polymer, and lipid-based nanoparticles in skin cancer therapy with subsequent descriptions of their patents and clinical trials.

Alginates Combined with Natural Polymers as Valuable Drug Delivery Platforms

Alginates (ALG) have been used in biomedical and pharmaceutical technologies for decades. ALG are natural polymers occurring in brown algae and feature multiple advantages, including biocompatibility, low toxicity and mucoadhesiveness. Moreover, ALG demonstrate biological activities per se, including anti-hyperlipidemic, antimicrobial, anti-reflux, immunomodulatory or anti-inflammatory activities. ALG are characterized by gelling ability, one of the most frequently utilized properties in the drug form design. ALG have numerous applications in pharmaceutical technology that include micro- and nanoparticles, tablets, mucoadhesive dosage forms, wound dressings and films. However, there are some shortcomings, which impede the development of modified-release dosage forms or formulations with adequate mechanical strength based on pure ALG. Other natural polymers combined with ALG create great potential as drug carriers, improving limitations of ALG matrices. Therefore, in this paper, ALG blends with pectins, chitosan, gelatin, and carrageenans were critically reviewed.

Folic acid engineered sulforaphane loaded microbeads for targeting breast cancer

Non-targeted cancer therapy poses a huge risk to the cancer patients' life due to high toxicity offered by chemotherapy. Breast carcinoma is one of such deleterious disease, demanding a highly effectual treatment option which could reduce the toxicity and extend survival rate. Since, folate receptors extensively display themselves on the cancer cell surface, targeting them would help to ameliorate the progression and metastasis. Considering this, we envisaged and developed sulforaphane loaded folate engineered microbeads to target breast cancer cells over-expressing folate receptors. The surface engineered microbeads were optimized and developed using emulsion gelation technique, among which the best developed preparation demonstrated the particle size of 1302 ± 3.98 µm, % EE of 84.1 ± 3.32% and in vitro drug release of 98.1 ± 4.42%@24h. The spherical sized microbead showed controlled release with improved haem-compatibility in comparison to the bare drug. Free radical scavenging activity by ABTS assay showed strong anti-oxidant activity (IC₅₀ 20.62 µg/ml) of the targeted microbeads with profound cancer cell sup pressing effect (IC₅₀ 17.48 ± 3.5 µM) as observed in MCF-7 cells by MTT assay. Finally, in comparison to lone SFN, the targeted therapy showed enhanced uptake by the intestinal villi indicating a suitable oral targeted therapy against breast carcinoma.

Synergy of Polydopamine Nanovaccine and Endostar Alginate Hydrogel for Improving Antitumor Immune Responses Against Colon Tumor

BACKGROUND

Tumor immunotherapy, a novel type of therapeutic treatment, has a wide range of applications with potentially prolonged benefits. However, current immunotherapy has a low overall response rate in treating a variety of tumors. Combination of immunotherapy with other therapies can improve the therapeutic response rates. The purpose of this work was to explore the potential of anti-angiogenic treatment in combination with tumor cell lysate loaded polydopamine nanoparticle vaccine as a therapeutic strategy for colon tumor.

METHODS

We grafted tumor cell lysate onto polydopamine nanoparticles as nano-vaccine (TCLN) and fabricated alginate hydrogel loaded with Endostar (EH), then detected characteristics of EH and TCLN. We also estimated the cytotoxicity of EH/TCLN in vitro. In the tumor-bearing mouse model, we evaluated the antitumor effect of EH/TCLN treatment, and developed the animal survival study. After performing the EH/TCLN treatment, we also analyzed T cells and DCs using flow cytometry, and determined T cell responses and tumor microenvironmental cytokines. At last, we assessed the effect of the EH/TCLN treatment on anti-angiogenesis further.

RESULTS

When applied in combination with TCLN in MC-38 tumor-bearing mice, EH/TCLN significantly suppressed tumor growth with more than half of the mice showing tumor regression. In addition, EH/TCLN treatment resulted in noticeable changes in the tumor microenvironment. As compared with the control group, EH/TCLN treatment led to significantly reduced tumor angiogenesis and expression of tumor microenvironment-related cytokines (TMCs), increased proportion of CD8⁺ T cells in the spleen, lymph node and tumor, elevated activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and tumor cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that the EH/TCLN treatment effectively created a favorable immune microenvironment for the induction of antitumor immunity and improved antitumor immune responses.

Alginate-Based Micro- and Nanosystems for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Alginates have been widely explored due to their salient advantages of hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, mucoadhesive features, bioavailability, environmentally-benign properties, and cost-effectiveness. They are applied for designing micro- and nanosystems for controlled and targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy as alginate biopolymers find usage in encapsulating anticancer drugs to improve their bioavailability, sustained release, pharmacokinetics, and bio-clearance. Notably, these nanomaterials can be applied for photothermal, photodynamic, and chemodynamic therapy of cancers/tumors. Future explorations ought to be conducted to find novel alginate-based (nano)systems for targeted cancer therapy using advanced drug delivery techniques with benefits of non-invasiveness, patient compliance, and convenience of drug administration. Thus, some critical parameters such as mucosal permeability, stability in the gastrointestinal tract environment, and drug solubility ought to be considered. In addition, the comprehensive clinical translational studies along with the optimization of synthesis techniques still need to be addressed. Herein, we present an overview of the current state of knowledge and recent developments pertaining to the applications of alginate-based micro- and nanosystems for targeted cancer therapy based on controlled drug delivery, photothermal therapy, and chemodynamic/photodynamic therapy approaches, focusing on important challenges and future directions.

Sodium alginate based drug delivery in management of breast cancer

Among women, breast cancer (B·C.) is a common form of cancer that can strike either developed or developing countries. In addition to pregnancy-related variables, hormone therapy lifestyle factors (e.g., physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol use) may all influence the progression of B·C. The creation of anti-B·C. medication carriers with better stability, controlled and targeted administration, and the goal of minimizing unwanted effects has taken a lot of time and effort. Naturally generated biopolymers-based pharmaceutical delivery techniques have attracted attention for their potential use in treating B·C. It's been shown that natural polymers can deliver high medication concentrations to the desired place and provide prolonged release of pharmaceuticals useful in treating B.C. Alginate is one of the most commonly used drug carriers for delayed and targeted release. In present review will discuss the utilization of sodium alginate as an carrier of anticancer drug, such as paclitaxel, doxorubicin, tamoxifen, curcumin, and others.

Effect of Chitosan on Alginate-Based Macroporous Hydrogels for the Capture of Glioblastoma Cancer Cells

Glioblastoma multiforme is a type of brain cancer associated with a very low survival rate since a large number of cancer cells remain infiltrated in the brain despite the treatments currently available. This work presents a macroporous hydrogel trap, destined to be implanted in the surgical cavity following tumor resection and designed to attract and retain cancer cells, in order to eliminate them afterward with a lethal dose of stereotactic radiotherapy. The biocompatible hydrogel formulation comprises sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan (CHI) bearing complementary electrostatic charges and stabilizing the gels in saline and cell culture media, as compared to pristine SA gels. The highly controlled and interconnected porosity, characterized by X-ray microCT, yields mechanical properties comparable to those of brain tissues and allows F98 glioblastoma cells to penetrate the gels within the entire volume, as confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. The addition of a grafted -RGD peptide on SA, combined with CHI, significantly enhances the adhesion and retention of F98 cells within the gels. Overall, the best compromise between low proliferation and a high level of accumulation and retention of F98 cells was obtained with the hydrogel formulated with 1% SA and 0.2% CHI, without the -RGD adhesion peptide.

Nanocarriers for anticancer drugs: Challenges and perspectives

Cancer is the second most common cause of death globally, surpassed only by cardiovascular disease. One of the hallmarks of cancer is uncontrolled cell division and resistance to cell death. Multiple approaches have been developed to tackle this disease, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Although chemotherapy is used primarily to control cell division and induce cell death, some cancer cells are able to resist apoptosis and develop tolerance to these drugs. The side effects of chemotherapy are often overwhelming, and patients can experience more adverse effects than benefits. Furthermore, the bioavailability and stability of drugs used for chemotherapy are crucial issues that must be addressed, and there is therefore a high demand for a reliable delivery system that ensures fast and accurate targeting of treatment. In this review, we discuss the different types of nanocarriers, their properties and recent advances in formulations, with respect to relevant advantages and disadvantages of each.

Algal Polysaccharides-Based Hydrogels: Extraction, Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

Hydrogels are three-dimensional crosslinked hydrophilic polymer networks with great potential in drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound dressing, agrochemicals application, food packaging, and cosmetics. However, conventional synthetic polymer hydrogels may be hazardous and have poor biocompatibility and biodegradability. Algal polysaccharides are abundant natural products with biocompatible and biodegradable properties. Polysaccharides and their derivatives also possess unique features such as physicochemical properties, hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, and tunable functionality. As such, algal polysaccharides have been widely exploited as building blocks in the fabrication of polysaccharide-based hydrogels through physical and/or chemical crosslinking. In this review, we discuss the extraction and characterization of polysaccharides derived from algae. This review focuses on recent advances in synthesis and applications of algal polysaccharides-based hydrogels. Additionally, we discuss the techno-economic analyses of chitosan and acrylic acid-based hydrogels, drawing attention to the importance of such analyses for hydrogels. Finally, the future prospects of algal polysaccharides-based hydrogels are outlined.

Biocomposite-based nanostructured delivery systems for treatment and control of inflammatory lung diseases

Diseases related to the lungs are among the most prevalent medical problems threatening human life. The treatment options and therapeutics available for these diseases are hindered by inadequate drug concentrations at pathological sites, a dearth of cell-specific targeting and different biological barriers in the alveoli or conducting airways. Nanostructured delivery systems for lung drug delivery have been significant in addressing these issues. The strategies used include surface engineering by altering the material structure or incorporation of specific ligands to reach prespecified targets. The unique characteristics of nanoparticles, such as controlled size and distribution, surface functional groups and therapeutic release triggering capabilities, are tailored to specific requirements to overcome the major therapeutic barriers in pulmonary diseases. In the present review, the authors intend to deliver significant up-to-date research in nanostructured therapies in inflammatory lung diseases with an emphasis on biocomposite-based nanoparticles.

Applications of Alginate-Based Nanomaterials in Enhancing the Therapeutic Effects of Bee Products

Since the ancient times, bee products (i.e., honey, propolis, pollen, bee venom, bee bread, and royal jelly) have been considered as natural remedies with therapeutic effects against a number of diseases. The therapeutic pleiotropy of bee products is due to their diverse composition and chemical properties, which is independent on the bee species. This has encouraged researchers to extensively study the therapeutic potentials of these products, especially honey. On the other hand, amid the unprecedented growth in nanotechnology research and applications, nanomaterials with various characteristics have been utilized to improve the therapeutic efficiency of these products. Towards keeping the bee products as natural and non-toxic therapeutics, the green synthesis of nanocarriers loaded with these products or their extracts has received a special attention. Alginate is a naturally produced biopolymer derived from brown algae, the desirable properties of which include biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and non-immunogenicity. This review presents an overview of alginates, including their properties, nanoformulations, and pharmaceutical applications, placing a particular emphasis on their applications for the enhancement of the therapeutic effects of bee products. Despite the paucity of studies on fabrication of alginate-based nanomaterials loaded with bee products or their extracts, recent advances in the area of utilizing alginate-based nanomaterials and other types of materials to enhance the therapeutic potentials of bee products are summarized in this work. As the most widespread and well-studied bee products, honey and propolis have garnered a special interest; combining them with alginate-based nanomaterials has led to promising findings, especially for wound healing and skin tissue engineering. Furthermore, future directions are proposed and discussed to encourage researchers to develop alginate-based stingless bee product nanomedicines, and to help in selecting suitable methods for devising nanoformulations based on multi-criteria decision making models. Also, the commercialization prospects of nanocomposites based on alginates and bee products are discussed. In conclusion, preserving original characteristics of the bee products is a critical challenge in developing nano-carrier systems. Alginate-based nanomaterials are well suited for this task because they can be fabricated without the use of harsh conditions, such as shear force and freeze-drying, which are often used for other nano-carriers. Further, conjunction of alginates with natural polymers such as honey does not only combine the medicinal properties of alginates and honey, but it could also enhance the mechanical properties and cell adhesion capacity of alginates.

Drug delivery systems for cancer treatment: a review of marine-derived polysaccharides

Abstract:

Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and the spread of cells to other tissues and remains one of the worldwide problems waiting to be solved. There are various treatment strategies for cancer, such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, although it varies according to its type and stage. Many chemotherapeutic agents have limited clinical use due to lack of efficacy, off-target toxicity, metabolic instability, or poor pharmacokinetics. One possible solution to this high rate of clinical failure is to design drug delivery systems that deliver drugs in a controlled and specific manner and are not toxic to normal cells. Marine systems contain biodiversity, including components and materials that can be used in biomedical applications and therapy. Biomaterials such as chitin, chitosan, alginate, carrageenan, fucoidan, hyaluronan, agarose, and ulvan obtained from marine organisms have found use in DDSs today. These polysaccharides are biocompatible, non-toxic, biodegradable, and cost-effective, making them ideal raw materials for increasingly complex DDSs with a potentially regulated release. In this review, the contributions of polysaccharides from the marine environment to the development of anticancer drugs in DDSs will be discussed.

Safety and efficacy assessment of aerogels for biomedical applications

The unique physicochemical properties of aerogels have made them an attractive class of materials for biomedical applications such as drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and wound healing. Their low density, high porosity, and ability to regulate the pore structure makes aerogels ideal nano/micro-structures for loading of drugs and active biomolecules. As a result of this, the number of in vitro and in vivo studies on the therapeutic efficacy of these porous materials has increased substantially in recent years and continues to be an area of great interest. However, data about their in vivo performance and safety is limited. Studies have shown that polymer-based, silica-based and some hybrid aerogels are generally regarded as safe but given that studies on the acute, subacute, and chronic toxicity for the majority of aerogel types is missing, more work is still needed. This review presents a comprehensive summary of different biomedical applications of aerogels proposed to date as well as new and innovative applications of aerogels in other areas such as decontamination. We have also reviewed their biological effect on cells and living organisms with a focus on therapeutic efficacy and overall safety (in vivo and in vitro).

The Brown Seaweeds of Scotland, Their Importance and Applications

More than 50% of the UK coastline is situated in Scotland under legislative jurisdiction; therefore, there is a great opportunity for regionally focused economic development by the rational use of sustainable marine bio-sources. We review the importance of seaweeds in general, and more specifically, wrack brown seaweeds which are washed from the sea and accumulated in the wrack zone and their economic impact. Rules and regulations governing the harvesting of seaweed, potential sites for harvesting, along with the status of industrial application are discussed. We describe extraction and separation methods of natural products from these seaweeds along with their phytochemical profiles. Many potential applications for these derivatives exist in agriculture, energy, nutrition, biomaterials, waste treatment (composting), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other applications. The chemical diversity of the natural compounds present in these seaweeds is an opportunity to further investigate a range of chemical scaffolds, evaluate their biological activities, and develop them for better pharmaceutical or biotechnological applications. The key message is the significant opportunity for the development of high value products from a seaweed processing industry in Scotland, based on a sustainable resource, and locally regulated.

High strength and strain alginate fibers by a novel wheel spinning technique for knitting stretchable and biocompatible wound-care materials

Alginate fibrous materials have been applied as wound dressing to enhance wound healing due to its nontoxic, biodegradable, and hemostatic nature. Conventional nonwoven fabrication tactics, however, showed weakness in inflammation, degradation stability and mechanical properties. Herein, the wet-spun alginate fibers were prepared by a novel wheel spinning technique, then knitted into wound dressing. Benefiting from optimized wet spinning parameters and the agglomeration of alginate multimers, the fibers were endowed with elevated mechanical performances and biodegradability, which allowed for the feasibility of knitting wound-care materials. Using the new wheel spinning technique, high strength alginate fibers with 173 MPa were produced with breaking strain up to 18% and toughness of 16.16 MJ*m^-3. Meanwhile, alginate fibers with high breaking strain reaching 35% were produced with tensile strength of 135 MPa and toughness of 37.47 MJ*m^-3. The overall mechanical performances of these alginate fibers with high breaking strain are significantly higher (up to 2 times) than those published in the literature in term of toughness. In vitro degradation evaluation revealed that this wet spun fibrous dressing had good aqueous absorbency (50%) and sustained biodegradation properties. Furthermore, the consequent cell viability study also proved that this alginate knitted fabric is biocompatible for being applied as wound dressing.