The Structural Characteristics of Seaweed Polysaccharides and Their Application in Gel Drug Delivery Systems

• Published in: Marine drugs Vol. 18; no. 12; p. 658
• Main Authors: Zhong, Haowei, Gao, Xiaoran, Cheng, Cui, Liu, Chun, Wang, Qiaowen, Han, Xiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 21.12.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Algae; Alginic acid; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - isolation & purification; Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - isolation & purification; Antioxidants; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Antiviral Agents - chemistry; Antiviral Agents - isolation & purification; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - physiology; Aqueous solutions; Biocompatibility; Biocompatible Materials - administration & dosage; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - isolation & purification; Cancer; Carrageenan; Cell cycle; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Drugs; Exploitation; Free radicals; Gels; Gels - administration & dosage; Gels - chemistry; Gels - isolation & purification; Humans; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - administration & dosage; Hydrogels - chemistry; Immunity; Inflammation; Kinases; Microgels; Microspheres; Monosaccharides; Mutation; Nanoparticles; Natural polymers; Neoplasms; Pharmaceuticals; Polymers; Polysaccharides; Polysaccharides - administration & dosage; Polysaccharides - chemistry; Polysaccharides - isolation & purification; Proteins; R&D; Radiation; Research & development; Review; Saccharides; Salt; Seaweed; seaweed polysaccharides; Seaweeds; Sodium; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Viruses; Viscosity; alginic acid; drug delivery; seaweed polysaccharides; carrageenan; gels
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md18120658

In recent years, researchers across various fields have shown a keen interest in the exploitation of biocompatible natural polymer materials, especially the development and application of seaweed polysaccharides. Seaweed polysaccharides are a multi-component mixture composed of one or more monosaccharides, which have the functions of being anti-virus, anti-tumor, anti-mutation, anti-radiation and enhancing immunity. These biological activities allow them to be applied in various controllable and sustained anti-inflammatory and anticancer drug delivery systems, such as seaweed polysaccharide-based nanoparticles, microspheres and gels, etc. This review summarizes the advantages of alginic acid, carrageenan and other seaweed polysaccharides, and focuses on their application in gel drug delivery systems (such as nanogels, microgels and hydrogels). In addition, recent literature reports and applications of seaweed polysaccharides are also discussed.