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This review summarizes carbohydrate-based macromolecular biomaterials since 2010, covering their roles as structural matter and biological information carriers. It details their design, synthesis, and applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and immunology.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Carbohydrate Chemistry
  • Polymer Science

Background:

  • Carbohydrates are essential biomacromolecules, acting as both structural components (matter) and signaling molecules (information).
  • Polysaccharides and glycans are crucial in biological processes, serving as scaffolds and mediating cell interactions.
  • Carbohydrate-based materials offer unique properties for biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive review of carbohydrate-based macromolecular biomaterials developed since 2010.
  • To emphasize fundamental understanding for rational biomaterial design.
  • To bridge the understanding of carbohydrates as matter and information for novel biomaterial development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on carbohydrate-based macromolecular biomaterials since 2010.
  • Classification of materials based on resources and chemical structures (natural polysaccharides, synthetic glycopolymers, etc.).
  • Analysis of structure-function relationships in key application areas.

Main Results:

  • Carbohydrate macromolecules are categorized into naturally occurring polysaccharides, naturally derived synthetic polysaccharides, glycopolymers/glycodendrimers, supramolecular glycopolymers, and synthetic glycolipids/glycoproteins.
  • These materials exhibit diverse functionalities for applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and immunology.
  • Structure-function relationships are detailed across various application domains.

Conclusions:

  • Carbohydrate-based macromolecular biomaterials offer significant potential in various biomedical fields.
  • A deeper understanding of their dual role (matter and information) is crucial for advancing biomaterial design.
  • Continued research in this area promises innovative solutions for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and immunology.