Biopolysaccharides: Properties and Applications

Abstract

The four basic macromolecules of life are lipids, proteins, polynucleotides, and carbohydrates. Polysaccharides are the most abundant carbohydrate polymers found in nature: they widely exist in animals, plants, microorganisms, and algae. The biological functions of these large and structurally complex polymers are wide-ranging, from those that appear to be relatively subtle, to those that are crucial for survival, growth, development, and maintenance of the organism that synthesizes them. On the other hand, in the past years, attempts to investigate natural polysaccharides-based biomaterials for several diverse applications including tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, food preservation, cosmetics, biofuel production, wastewater treatment, and production of textile fibers have been increased. Undoubtedly, the ever-growing knowledge about the structure, synthesis, and function of biopolysaccharides, as well as their interactions with other biomolecules, will open up new avenues for new applications and innovations of polysaccharides. © 2021 Scrivener Publishing LLC.