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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural polysaccharides are important biomacromolecules that exist in almost all living forms. They have important biological functions, and are receiving increasing attention due to their extensive range of therapeutic and biological activities, including antioxidant, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and hypoglycemia activities; thus, they are one of the most promising candidates in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Polysaccharides can be isolated from natural sources including algae, plants, microorganisms, and animals. Additionally, due to their physicochemical properties, they are prone to physical and chemical modifications that can lead to improved properties; this is the basis for their various biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. However, there are limitations and challenges to these applications, including batch-to-batch variations, microbial contamination, reduced viscosity during storage, thickening, and uncontrolled rates of hydration. These problems could be minimized through modifications such as grafting, cross-linking, and blending with other natural/synthetic/semi-synthetic polymers. Furthermore, the high variability of polysaccharides in nature adds a new challenge to the extraction and purification of these polysaccharides; they are naturally found in complexes with other compounds such as proteins and lipids, and their isolation requires efficient and precise methods to avoid co-extraction and contamination with other compounds. Lastly, determining and understanding polysaccharides' structural activity relationships could provide new opportunities for their pharmaceutical and biological applications. Therefore, this Special Issue welcomes original research or review papers that highlight:

Studies on the structure and properties of polysaccharides from different sources with potential medicinal and pharmaceutical applications.
Studies on immunomodulation and new materials based on polysaccharides isolated from different sources and their derivatives.
Studies on nonmodified and modified polysaccharides for drug delivery, immunomodulation, tissue engineering, and hydrogel preparation.

Dr. Suresh Veeraperumal
Dr. Kit Leong Cheong
Dr. Pazhanichamy Kalailingam
Guest Editors

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Keywords

natural polysaccharides
biological activity
drug delivery
immunomodulation
structural activity relationship
biopharmaceutics
formulation

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 3792 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Safe-by-Design Approach for the Synthesis of a Novel Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid with Improved Biological and Physical Properties

by Sabrina Sciabica, Riccardo Barbari, Riccardo Fontana, Giovanni Tafuro, Alessandra Semenzato, Daniela Traini, Dina M. Silva, Larissa Gomes Dos Reis, Luisa Canilli, Massimo Terno, Peggy Marconi, Anna Baldisserotto, Silvia Vertuani and Stefano Manfredini

Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(3), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16030431 - 11 Mar 2023

Viewed by 2411

Abstract

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a polymer with unique biological properties that has gained in interest over the years, with applications in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biomedical fields; however, its widespread use has been limited by its short half-life. Therefore, a new cross-linked hyaluronic acid was designed and characterized using a natural and safe cross-linking agent, such as arginine methyl ester, which provided improved resistance to enzymatic action, as compared to the corresponding linear polymer. The antibacterial profile of the new derivative was shown to be effective against S. aureus and P. acnes, making it a promising candidate for use in cosmetic formulations and skin applications. Its effect on S. pneumoniae, combined with its excellent tolerability profile on lung cells, also makes this new product suitable for applications involving the respiratory tract. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Applications of Natural Polysaccharides for Pharmaceuticals)

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Review

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18 pages, 1270 KiB

Open AccessReview

Oligosaccharides as Potential Regulators of Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Health in Post-COVID-19 Management

by Kit-Leong Cheong, Shutong Chen, Bo Teng, Suresh Veeraperumal, Saiyi Zhong and Karsoon Tan

Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(6), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16060860 - 9 Jun 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2437

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact worldwide, resulting in long-term health effects for many individuals. Recently, as more and more people recover from COVID-19, there is an increasing need to identify effective management strategies for post-COVID-19 syndrome, which may include diarrhea, fatigue, and chronic inflammation. Oligosaccharides derived from natural resources have been shown to have prebiotic effects, and emerging evidence suggests that they may also have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, which could be particularly relevant in mitigating the long-term effects of COVID-19. In this review, we explore the potential of oligosaccharides as regulators of gut microbiota and intestinal health in post-COVID-19 management. We discuss the complex interactions between the gut microbiota, their functional metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, and the immune system, highlighting the potential of oligosaccharides to improve gut health and manage post-COVID-19 syndrome. Furthermore, we review evidence of gut microbiota with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 expression for alleviating post-COVID-19 syndrome. Therefore, oligosaccharides offer a safe, natural, and effective approach to potentially improving gut microbiota, intestinal health, and overall health outcomes in post-COVID-19 management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Applications of Natural Polysaccharides for Pharmaceuticals)

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