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Recent advances in exploiting carrageenans as a versatile functional material for promising biomedical applications
Fang Liu1, Guangcai Duan1, Haiyan Yang1
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, PR China.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|March 1, 2023
Summary
Carrageenans, red seaweed biopolymers, show promise in medicine. Their unique structure and properties enable applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and as antiviral and antitumor agents.
Area of Science:
- Biopolymer Science
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Carrageenans are polysaccharides from red seaweeds, traditionally used in food for emulsifying, stabilizing, and gelling.
- They possess bioactive properties, including disease modification and microbiota modulation.
- Emerging applications leverage carrageenans as biocompatible materials for hydrogels and nanostructures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the structural characteristics and functional relevance of carrageenans.
- To summarize their physicochemical and rheological properties.
- To discuss recent advances and potential of carrageenans in biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of carrageenan structure, properties, and applications.
- Analysis of clinical trial data for antiviral and antitumor uses.
- Evaluation of carrageenan-based drug delivery systems and bioink potential.
Main Results:
- Carrageenans exhibit unique structural features and rheological properties (thixotropy, shear-thinning).
- Clinical trials show potential as antiviral and antitumor agents.
- Advancements in carrageenan-based drug delivery systems and 3D printing bioinks are highlighted.
Conclusions:
- Carrageenans are versatile biopolymers with significant potential in biomedicine.
- Further research and development are needed to overcome commercialization challenges.
- Understanding structure-property-biofunctionality relationships is key for novel applications.
