/pdf/degradable-controlled-release-polymers-and-polymeric-1y322ha58z.pdf

Degradable Controlled-Release Polymers and Polymeric Nanoparticles: Mechanisms of Controlling Drug Release

Hydrogels are polymeric materials distinguished by high water content and diverse physical properties. They can be engineered to resemble the extracellular environment of the body's tissues in ways that enable their use in medical implants, biosensors, and drug-delivery devices. Cell-compatible hydrogels are designed by using a strategy of coordinated control over physical properties and bioactivity to influence specific interactions with cellular systems, including spatial and temporal patterns of biochemical and biomechanical cues known to modulate cell behavior. Important new discoveries in stem cell research, cancer biology, and cellular morphogenesis have been realized with model hydrogel systems premised on these designs. Basic and clinical applications for hydrogels in cell therapy, tissue engineering, and biomedical research continue to drive design improvements using performance-based materials engineering paradigms.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/336/6085/1124.full.pdf

Designing Cell-Compatible Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications

Hyaluronan fragments: an information-rich system.

Dietary fiber and whole grains contain a unique blend of bioactive components including resistant starches, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants. As a result, research regarding their potential health benefits has received considerable attention in the last several decades. Epidemiological and clinical studies demonstrate that intake of dietary fiber and whole grain is inversely related to obesity, type two diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Defining dietary fiber is a divergent process and is dependent on both nutrition and analytical concepts. The most common and accepted definition is based on nutritional physiology. Generally speaking, dietary fiber is the edible parts of plants, or similar carbohydrates, that are resistant to digestion and absorption in the small intestine. Dietary fiber can be separated into many different fractions. Recent research has begun to isolate these components and determine if increasing their levels in a diet is beneficial to human health. These fractions include arabinoxylan, inulin, pectin, bran, cellulose, β-glucan and resistant starch. The study of these components may give us a better understanding of how and why dietary fiber may decrease the risk for certain diseases. The mechanisms behind the reported effects of dietary fiber on metabolic health are not well established. It is speculated to be a result of changes in intestinal viscosity, nutrient absorption, rate of passage, production of short chain fatty acids and production of gut hormones. Given the inconsistencies reported between studies this review will examine the most up to date data concerning dietary fiber and its effects on metabolic health.

/pdf/effects-of-dietary-fiber-and-its-components-on-metabolic-nuipfok7lj.pdf

Effects of dietary fiber and its components on metabolic health.

Hydrogels for protein delivery.

Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan, HA) is a linear polysaccharide formed from disaccharide units containing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and glucuronic acid. It has a high molecular mass, usually in the order of millions of Daltons, and interesting viscoelastic properties influenced by its polymeric and polyelectrolyte characteristics. HA is present in almost all biological fluids and tissues. In clinical medicine, it is used as a diagnostic marker for many diseases including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and liver pathologies, as well as for supplementation of impaired synovial fluid in arthritic patients by means of intra-articular injections. It is also used in certain ophthalmological and otological surgeries and cosmetic regeneration and reconstruction of soft tissue. Herein we present an overview of the occurrence and physiological properties of HA, as well as of the recent advances in production biotechnology and preparation of the HA-based materials for medical application.

/pdf/hyaluronic-acid-a-natural-biopolymer-with-a-broad-range-of-4y5phzm3pj.pdf

Hyaluronic acid: a natural biopolymer with a broad range of biomedical and industrial applications.

http://www.uef.sav.sk/Soltes_PDF/2007%20Biotechnol.Adv.%20-%20Stern.pdf

The many ways to cleave hyaluronan.

Degradative action of reactive oxygen species on hyaluronan.

Microbial (1→3)-β-d-glucans, their preparation, physico-chemical characterization and immunomodulatory activity

http://www.zoo.sav.sk/data/people_publictions_981_Majtan_2007.pdf

Grigorij Kogan

Papers

Hyaluronic acid: a natural biopolymer with a broad range of biomedical and industrial applications.

The many ways to cleave hyaluronan.

Degradative action of reactive oxygen species on hyaluronan.

Microbial (1→3)-β-d-glucans, their preparation, physico-chemical characterization and immunomodulatory activity

Isolation and characterization of chitin from bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)