Carbohydrate polymers
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The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is rapidly spreading globally. Clinical observations found that systemic symptoms caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection are attenuated when using the anticoagulant agent heparin, indicating that heparin may play other roles in managing COVID-19, in addition to prevention of pulmonary thrombosis. ⋯ However, adverse effects of heparin administration and some of the challenges using heparin therapy for SARS-CoV-2 infection need to be considered. This review discusses the pharmacological mechanisms of heparin regarding its anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and direct antiviral activities, providing current evidence concerning the effectiveness and safety of heparin therapy for this major public health emergency.
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Carbohydrate polymers · Mar 2019
ReviewCurrent advances and future perspectives of 3D printing natural-derived biopolymers.
3D printing enables the complex or customized structures production in high speed and resolution. However, the lack of bio-based materials with user-defined biochemical and mechanical property is a significant barrier that limits the widespread adoption of 3D printing for products fabrication. Development of eco-friendly natural-derived biopolymers for 3D printing technologies and their promising application in different areas are of huge academic, and environmental interests. ⋯ Special consideration is given to the development of lignocellulosic materials, i.e. cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and their derivatives as 3D printing feedstocks. A strategical development roadmap with identified material property requirements, key challenges, as well as possible solutions was proposed. It serves as guideline aiming to explore natural-derived biopolymers as novel feedstocks for different 3D printing technologies that will be potentially applied in various areas.
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Carbohydrate polymers · Mar 2018
ReviewA review of polysaccharides from Schisandra chinensis and Schisandra sphenanthera: Properties, functions and applications.
Schisandra is an herbal plant resource with dual functions in medicine and food since ancient times. It has a variety of healthcare and therapeutic effects. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill and Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wits are two of the most commonly used Schisandra. ⋯ Progress in the industrial production and extraction process of plant polysaccharides, especially Chinese medicine polysaccharides in the past three decades, have led to many new discoveries about Schisandra polysaccharides in the fields of purification and identification. Their health benefits and pharmacological value have increased the interest of the public and academia. This review summarizes the physicochemical properties and biological functions of polysaccharides from two Schisandra fruits, and the application prospects of these bioactive macromolecules in future daily life and medicine.
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Carbohydrate polymers · Feb 2017
Construction of silver sulfadiazine loaded chitosan composite sponges as potential wound dressings.
Chitosan/silver sulfadiazine (CS/AgSD) composite sponges were prepared by incorporating AgSD particles into CS matrix in order to develop novel biomaterials for wound healing. The co-existence of CS and AgSD in the composite sponges was confirmed by SEM, FTIR and XRD spectra, respectively. The porosity and swelling properties of the fabricated CS/AgSD composite sponges were examined and the results indicated that they had high porosity and excellent swelling behaviors. ⋯ The cytotoxicity of the prepared composite sponges was performed by MTT viability assay and fluorescence staining method on HEK293 cell lines. The cell viability results indicated that the designed sponges had no significant cytotoxicity. The results of this study demonstrated that the CS/AgSD composite sponges have potential application in antimicrobial wound dressing materials.
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Carbohydrate polymers · Feb 2017
Dual pH/redox responsive and CD44 receptor targeting hybrid nano-chrysalis based on new oligosaccharides of hyaluronan conjugates.
A smart hybrid microenvironment-mediated dual pH/redox-responsive polymeric nanoparticles combined with inorganic calcium phosphate (CaP) was fabricated, which we term as armored nano-chrysalis inspired by butterfly pupa. The nano-chrysalis has an inner core composed of specially designed oligosaccharides of hyaluronan (oHA) targeting CD44 receptor. The inner core has two functions, i.e., the dual pH/redox responsive polymeric conjugate and the fluorescent curcumin-prodrug function. ⋯ Interestingly, while the nano-chrysalis were stable under pH 7.4, when incubated under the tumor acidic conditions (pH 6.5) the outer CaP armor would dissolve in a pH-dependent, sustained manner. Moreover, nano-chrysalis was demonstrated to present the most effective antitumor efficacy than other formulations. This study provides a promising smart nano-carrier platform to enhance the stability, decrease the side effects, and improve the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs.