Chitin is the most abundant natural amino polysaccharide and is estimated to be produced annually almost as much as cellulose. It has become of great interest not only as an underutilized resource, but also as a new functional material of high potential in various fields, and recent progress in chitin chemistry is quite noteworthy. The purpose of this review is to take a closer look at chitin and chitosan applications. Based on current research and existing products, some new and futuristic approaches in this fascinating area are thoroughly discussed.

A review of chitin and chitosan applications

Block copolymer micelles for drug delivery: design, characterization and biological significance

The rapid recognition of intravenously injected colloidal carriers, such as liposomes and polymeric nanospheres from the blood by Kupffer cells, has initiated a surge of development for "Kupffer cell-evading" or long-circulating particles. Such carriers have applications in vascular drug delivery and release, site-specific targeting (passive as well as active targeting), as well as transfusion medicine. In this article we have critically reviewed and assessed the rational approaches in the design as well as the biological performance of such constructs. For engineering and design of long-circulating carriers, we have taken a lead from nature. Here, we have explored the surface mechanisms, which affords red blood cells long-circulatory lives and the ability of specific microorganisms to evade macrophage recognition. Our analysis is then centered where such strategies have been translated and fabricated to design a wide range of particulate carriers (e.g., nanospheres, liposomes, micelles, oil-in-water emulsions) with prolonged circulation and/or target specificity. With regard to the targeting issues, attention is particularly focused on the importance of physiological barriers and disease states.

Long-Circulating and Target-Specific Nanoparticles: Theory to Practice

http://experimentationlab.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/AFMImages/butt_AFM.pdf

Force measurements with the atomic force microscope: Technique, interpretation and applications

Opsonization, biodistribution, and pharmacokinetics of polymeric nanoparticles

Biopolymer-based hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications: a review

In vitro evaluation of mucoadhesive properties of chitosan and some other natural polymers

Label-free biosensors attempt to overcome the stability and reliability problems of biosensors relying on the detection of labeled molecules We propose a label-free biosensor based on microring cavities in Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) that fits in an area below 10x10mum(2) The resonance wavelength shift that occurs when the surroundings of a cavity is changed, is used for sensing While theoretically the performance for bulk refractive index changes is moderate (10(-5)), this device performs outstanding in terms of absolute molecular mass sensing (theoretical sensitivity of 1fg molecular mass) thanks to its extremely small dimensions We use the avidin/biotin high affinity couple to demonstrate good repeatability and detection of protein concentrations down to 10ng/ml Fabrication with Deep UV lithography allows for cheap mass production and integration with electronic functions for complete lab-on-chip devices

http://photonics.intec.ugent.be/download/pub_2121.pdf

Silicon-on-Insulator microring resonator for sensitive and label-free biosensing

https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/792032/file/8599453.pdf

Nonthermal Plasma Technology as a Versatile Strategy for Polymeric Biomaterials Surface Modification: A Review

Cationic polymers can self-assemble with DNA to form polyelectrolyte complexes capable of gene delivery, although biocompatibility of the complexes is generally limited. Here we have used A-B type cationic-hydrophilic block co-polymers to introduce a protective surface hydrophilic shielding following oriented self-assembly with DNA. Block co-polymers of poly(ethylene glycol)–poly-l-lysine (pEG-pLL) and poly-N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide–poly(trimethylammonioethyl methacrylate chloride) (pHPMA–pTMAEM) both show spontaneous formation of complexes with DNA. Surface charge measured by zeta potential is decreased compared with equivalent polycation–DNA complexes in each case. Atomic force microscopy shows that pHPMA–pTMAEM/DNA complexes are discrete spheres similar to those formed between DNA and simple polycations, whereas pEG–pLL/DNA complexes adopt an extended structure. Biological properties depend on the charge ratio of formation. At optimal charge ratio, pEG–pLL/DNA complexes show efficient ...

Etienne Schacht

Papers

Biopolymer-based hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications: a review

In vitro evaluation of mucoadhesive properties of chitosan and some other natural polymers

Silicon-on-Insulator microring resonator for sensitive and label-free biosensing

Nonthermal Plasma Technology as a Versatile Strategy for Polymeric Biomaterials Surface Modification: A Review

Characterization of Vectors for Gene Therapy Formed by Self-Assembly of DNA with Synthetic Block Co-Polymers