Hydrogels of levan polysaccharide: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Biopolymer Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Carbohydrate Chemistry

Background:

• Levan is a fructose-based homopolysaccharide with notable adhesive, self-assembly, and bioactive properties.
• Increasing interest in levan-based biomaterials for diverse applications, including medicine and cosmetics.
• Levan hydrogels offer extracellular matrix-mimicking structures, tunable properties, and controlled release for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review advancements in levan-based hydrogel research.
• To systematically analyze biomedical applications of levan hydrogels.
• To compare levan hydrogels with other biopolymer-based hydrogels and explore levan's potential as an alternative.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and systematic analysis of levan hydrogel research.
• Assessment of trends, advantages, limitations, and prospects of levan hydrogels.
• Comparative analysis with established hydrogel systems.

Main Results:

• Levan hydrogels exhibit promising characteristics for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and cosmetic formulations.
• The review highlights levan's potential as a versatile biopolymer for various applications.
• Identified areas requiring further research for broader adoption of levan-derived biomaterials.

Conclusions:

• Levan hydrogels represent a significant advancement in biomaterials, offering unique advantages.
• Further research is crucial to fully realize the potential of levan-based hydrogels in biomedical and industrial fields.
• Levan hydrogels are positioned as a viable alternative to existing hydrogel systems.