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Polysaccharides
Special Issues
New Insights into Polysaccharide-Based Scaffolds: Design, Production and Applications
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New Insights into Polysaccharide-Based Scaffolds: Design, Production and Applications

A special issue of Polysaccharides (ISSN 2673-4176).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 August 2026 | Viewed by 3593

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Antonio Laezza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences (DiSTA), eCampus University, Via Isimbardi 10, 22060 Novedrate, Italy
Interests: polysaccharides; biopolymers; biomaterials; electrospinning; glycosaminoglycans
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural and synthetic polysaccharides represent intriguing candidates as scaffolding materials for biomedical and technological applications, ranging from tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biosensing to energy storage. Polysaccharide macromolecules consist of monosaccharide units connected by glycosidic bonds with functional groups on the polymeric backbone, enabling structural modifications. This feature, together with their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity aspects, encourages the investigation of these biopolymers. This Special Issue aims to highlight the recent advances in the area of scaffolds, with a particular interest in the design, production characterization and performance evaluation of those containing native or suitably functionalized polysaccharides for tissue engineering and biomedical applications. Depending on the design, topics include (but are not limited to) hydrogels and porous, fibrous, and composite scaffolds. Fabrication method topics may pertain to solvent casting, phase separation, electrospinning, freeze-drying, 3D printing, etc.

Dr. Antonio Laezza
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polysaccharides is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polysaccharides
  • scaffolds
  • biomaterials
  • structural functionalization
  • tissue engineering

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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31 pages, 6842 KB  
Article
Sequential Electrospinning of Asymmetric PDLLA/PVP-HA Scaffolds Functionalized with Glycine for Medical Devices
by Antonio Laezza, Francesca Armiento, Luigi Fabiano, Serena Munaò, Paola Campione, Matteo Carrozzino, Ileana Ielo, Katja Schenke-Layland, Giovanna De Luca, Grazia Maria Lucia Messina, Giovanna Calabrese, Antonietta Pepe and Brigida Bochicchio
Polysaccharides 2026, 7(2), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides7020046 - 13 Apr 2026
Viewed by 234
Abstract
In this study we engineered bilayered electrospun scaffolds consisting of a hydrophobic PDLLA and hydrophilic PVP layer that incorporate either native HA or semi-synthetic HA-Gly-OH at concentrations of 1% and 3% w/w. Generally, bilayer scaffolds electrospun on different days delaminated, [...] Read more.
In this study we engineered bilayered electrospun scaffolds consisting of a hydrophobic PDLLA and hydrophilic PVP layer that incorporate either native HA or semi-synthetic HA-Gly-OH at concentrations of 1% and 3% w/w. Generally, bilayer scaffolds electrospun on different days delaminated, while herein they maintained their integrity because they were electrospun on the same day. Sequential electrospinning enabled the bilayer structure characterized via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Young’s modulus measurements to assess morphology and mechanics. In vitro cytotoxicity and cell viability assays with fibroblast cells confirmed good biocompatibility for both the individual layers and the bilayer system. Among the tested formulations, the bilayer PDLLA/PVP–HA-Gly-OH 1% showed the most promising performance, attributed to the synergistic effects of HA and Gly-OH in promoting adhesion and proliferation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Polysaccharide-Based Scaffolds: Design, Production and Applications)
21 pages, 8505 KB  
Article
Biophysicochemical Design of a Dual-Function Hydrogel for Synergistic Shock-Absorption and Anti-Inflammatory Action for TMD Therapy
by Diego Garcia Miranda, Lucas de Paula Ramos, Pyetra Claro de Camargo, Nicole Fernanda dos Santos Lopes, Thalita Sani-Taiariol, Mauricio Ribeiro Baldan, Cristina Pacheco-Soares, Bruno Henrique Godoi, Kerstin Gritsch, Brigitte Grosgogeat and Alexandre Luiz Souto Borges
Polysaccharides 2026, 7(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides7020040 - 2 Apr 2026
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is recognized as a major public health problem, causing pain and physiological and psychosocial limitations. In this context, the present in vitro study investigated the synthesis of a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel with hydrocortisone (Hyd), designed to enhance joint lubrication [...] Read more.
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is recognized as a major public health problem, causing pain and physiological and psychosocial limitations. In this context, the present in vitro study investigated the synthesis of a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel with hydrocortisone (Hyd), designed to enhance joint lubrication by reducing mechanical friction and delivering the anti-inflammatory drug. The hydrogels were prepared with 3% HA (30 mg/mL) and Hyd—0.125% (1.25 mg/mL), 0.250% (2.5 mg/mL), 0.500% (5 mg/mL), or 1% (10 mg/mL). Physicochemical analyses included Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TGA), rheological tests (frequency, amplitude, and temperature ramp scans), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), performed before and after sterilization and cycling. In addition, cytocompatibility was evaluated by protocol OECD 129 and confocal microscopy, as well as genotoxicity (OECD487) in mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7 strain) per 24 h of exposure. FTIR demonstrated the spectral signatures of the compounds with no covalent interactions between the drugs, as well thermal stability on TGA. Rheology demonstrated that Hyd protected the HA structure after autoclaving, maintaining viscoelastic properties. SEM confirmed homogeneous porous morphology. Biological assays showed cell viability > 70%, but with a dose-dependent increase in genotoxicity (4–17 micronuclei). Confocal analysis revealed increasing cytotoxicity at high Hyd concentrations, indicating a balance between biocompatibility and adverse effects at concentrations ≤ 0.5%. Among the tested formulations, the 3% HA + 0.250% Hyd hydrogel provided the best balance of viscoelastic stability, cytocompatibility, and low genotoxicity, supporting its potential as a dual-function intra-articular candidate for TMD therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Polysaccharide-Based Scaffolds: Design, Production and Applications)
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24 pages, 6252 KB  
Article
Self-Assembly Multilayers Alginate/Chitosan Film Loaded with Alginate-Capped Silver Nanoparticles: A Promising Scaffold in Infected Skin Wound Scenarios
by Nadina Aimé Usseglio, Renée Onnainty, Priscila Schilrreff, Laura Valenti, Juan Cruz Bonafé Allende, Carla Giacomelli, Dolores Carrer and Gladys Ester Granero
Polysaccharides 2026, 7(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides7010034 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 667
Abstract
Cutaneous wound healing is a complex biological process often impaired by bacterial infections, especially by Staphylococcus aureus. To address this, alginate (ALG)/chitosan (CS) polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films incorporating alginate-coated silver nanoparticles (ALG–AgNPs) were fabricated by layer-by-layer self-assembly. The films exhibited a porous, [...] Read more.
Cutaneous wound healing is a complex biological process often impaired by bacterial infections, especially by Staphylococcus aureus. To address this, alginate (ALG)/chitosan (CS) polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films incorporating alginate-coated silver nanoparticles (ALG–AgNPs) were fabricated by layer-by-layer self-assembly. The films exhibited a porous, layered morphology with homogeneous distribution of ALG–AgNPs, hydrophilic surfaces (contact angle ≈ 55°), a high swelling degree (~175%), and a water vapor transmission rate of 1830 g m−2·day−1. Thermal analyses showed similar degradation profiles up to 600 °C, with the ALG–AgNP film displaying lower moisture loss and higher dehydration temperature, consistent with enhanced ionic and coordination crosslinking (–NH3+/–COO− and Ag–O–C bonds). The release of Ag+ in PBS (pH 7.4) was ~3% after 24 h, following a Korsmeyer–Peppas mechanism (R2 = 0.97, n < 0.5), and degradation, with ~40% mass loss in 6 days, indicated gradual matrix disintegration. Cytocompatibility studies revealed >80% viability for fibroblasts, keratinocytes, macrophages, and <2% hemolysis of red blood cells. Immune assays showed a tendency towards reduced TNF-α and IL-1β and regulated IL-6/IL-8 release. Antibacterial evaluations demonstrated a 5-log reduction in planktonic bacterial viability and >2-log reduction in adhesion, and an 11 ± 1 mm inhibition zone for S. aureus. These results demonstrate that ALG/CS–AgNP PEM films combine biocompatibility, antibacterial efficacy, controlled degradation, and structural stability, making them promising multifunctional scaffolds for the regeneration of infected skin wounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Polysaccharide-Based Scaffolds: Design, Production and Applications)
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Review

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27 pages, 2211 KB  
Review
Changed Characteristics of Bacterial Cellulose Due to Its In Situ Biosynthesis as a Part of Composite Materials
by Elena Efremenko, Nikolay Stepanov, Aysel Aslanli, Olga Maslova, Ivan Chumachenko, Olga Senko and Amrik Bhattacharya
Polysaccharides 2025, 6(4), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides6040114 - 14 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1096
Abstract
In recent years, the sustained and even increasing interest in the development and application of novel composite materials based on the polysaccharide bacterial cellulose (BC) has been driven by the accumulation of experimental data and the emergence of analytical reviews that narratively summarize [...] Read more.
In recent years, the sustained and even increasing interest in the development and application of novel composite materials based on the polysaccharide bacterial cellulose (BC) has been driven by the accumulation of experimental data and the emergence of analytical reviews that narratively summarize these findings. This review presents a comparative and critical analysis of various approaches to the fabrication of BC-based composites. Among them, in situ biosynthesis is highlighted as the most promising strategy. In this approach, different additives are introduced directly into the culture medium of BC-producing microorganisms, enabling the formation of materials with different mechanical and physicochemical properties. Such a method also allows imparting to the composites a range of properties that BC itself does not possess, including antibacterial and enzymatic activity, as well as electrical conductivity. During the so-called “cell weaving” stage, performed by BC-producing microorganisms, diverse substances and microorganisms can be incorporated into the cultivation medium. By varying the concentrations of the introduced compounds, their ratios to the synthesized BC, and by employing different BC-producing strains and substrates, it becomes possible to regulate the characteristics of the resulting composites. Special attention is given to the role of various polysaccharides that are either introduced into the medium during BC biosynthesis or co-synthesized alongside BC within the same environment. Depending on the mode of incorporation of these additional polysaccharides, the resulting materials demonstrate variations in Young’s modulus and tensile strength. Nevertheless, they almost invariably exhibit a decreased degree of BC crystallinity within the composite structure and an enhanced water absorption capacity compared to the pure polymer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Polysaccharide-Based Scaffolds: Design, Production and Applications)
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