Marine-Origin Polysaccharides and Their Chemically Modified Derivatives as Sources of Advanced Biofunctional...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Marine Biotechnology
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Marine polysaccharides are sustainable, renewable macromolecules with excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-immunogenic properties.
• Their structural similarity to native tissues makes them ideal for biomedical applications.
• These polysaccharides are sourced from various marine organisms and exist in cationic, anionic, and neutral forms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of marine-origin polysaccharides.
• To discuss their sources, properties, and chemical functionalization strategies.
• To explore their processing into advanced biofunctional materials and devices for diverse applications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of marine-origin polysaccharides.
• Analysis of chemical functionalization techniques.
• Examination of processing methods for creating various biomaterials (e.g., nanoparticles, hydrogels, films).

Main Results:

• Marine polysaccharides can be functionalized and processed into diverse forms like nanoparticles, hydrogels, and films.
• These materials show promise in antimicrobial coatings, wound dressings, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.
• Examples include their use in food packaging, cosmetics, and in vitro disease modeling.

Conclusions:

• Marine-origin polysaccharides are versatile biomaterials with significant potential in regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and beyond.
• Challenges remain in clinical translation and commercialization.
• Future research should focus on overcoming these hurdles to fully exploit their capabilities.