Medical application of glycosaminoglycans: a review

Abstract

The characteristic molecular composition of the different glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) is related to their role as structural components and regulators of a multitude of functions of proteins, cells and tissues in the human body. Therefore, it is not surprising that GAGs are widely used as coating materials for implants, components of 3D-constructs such as tissue engineering scaffolds and hydrogels, but also as diagnostic devices such as biosensors and in controlled release applications. Beside a physisorption or encapsulation of GAGs, these applications often require their chemical modification to allow a stable covalent attachment on surfaces or cross-linking reactions with other molecules. Then, the preservation of the functionality of GAGs under maintenance of their biocompatibility is a challenging task and must be addressed in accordance with the designated field of application. Here, we will give a brief overview on structure and biological functions of GAGs, different methods of their activation and immobilization, the recent progress in GAG-related biomaterials development, as well as some examples of their application in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Study on the potential mechanism of anti‐inflammatory activity of covalently immobilized hyaluronan and heparin

“…In this study, we tried to shed a light on the potential mechanism of anti‐inflammatory action of HA or Hep regarding the signaling pathway of NF‐κB, when these GAG were used to modify model biomaterials in a covalent manner. We confirmed here findings of previous studies that immobilization of these GAG diminishes activation of macrophages (Köwitsch, Zhou, & Groth, ). The observed effects are related to a lowered translocation of NF‐κB subunit p65 to the nuclear area and reduced phosphorylation of NF‐κB on GAG‐modified surfaces compared to a NH 2 ‐terminated “pro‐inflammatory” control surface.…”

Effect of Different Crosslinking Strategies on Physical Properties and Biocompatibility of Freestanding Multilayer Films Made of Alginate and Chitosan

“…Different types of biomaterials of natural origin have been used for biomedical applications . One large family of natural polymers are polysaccharides, which exhibit high hydration rates, are abundant, biocompatible, and very often biodegradable .…”

“…[11] Different types of biomaterials of natural origin have been used for biomedical applications. [12,13] One large family of natural polymers are polysaccharides, which exhibit high hydration rates, are abundant, biocompatible, and very often biodegradable. [14] They are typically extracted from microorganisms, plants and animals, and exhibit a wide spectrum of biological effects.…”

Biomineralization improves mechanical and osteogenic properties of multilayer‐modified PLGA porous scaffolds

“…A large number of scaffold materials including natural or synthetic polymers, ceramics and bioactive glasses have been used for bone tissue engineering . Among them, poly‐(lactide‐co‐glycolide acid) (PLGA), one of the most commonly used synthetic degradable materials in medical applications, has been frequently used as a scaffold material for tissue engineering of bone owing to its biosafety, biodegradability and biocompatibility .…”

“…8,9 A large number of scaffold materials including natural or synthetic polymers, ceramics and bioactive glasses have been used for bone tissue engineering. [10][11][12] Among them, poly-(lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA), one of the most commonly used synthetic degradable materials in medical applications, has been frequently used as a scaffold material for tissue engineering of bone owing to its biosafety, biodegradability and biocompatibility. 13,14 However, similar to other synthetic polymers, PLGA represents a hydrophobic material, which affects the conformation of adsorbed proteins in an undesirable manner leading to a lack of cell recognition sites followed by poor cell attachment on the scaffold.…”