Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are long, linear polysaccharides that display a wide range of relevant biological roles. Particularly, in the extracellular matrix (ECM) GAG specifically interact with other biological molecules, such as growth factors, protecting them from proteolysis or inhibiting factors. Additionally, ECM GAG are partially responsible for the mechanical stability of tissues due to their capacity to retain high amounts of water, enabling hydration of the ECM and rendering it resistant to compressive forces. In this review, the use of GAG for developing hydrogel networks with improved biological activity and/or mechanical properties is discussed. Greater focus is given to strategies involving the production of hydrogels that are composed of GAG alone or in combination with other materials. Additionally, approaches used to introduce GAG-inspired features in biomaterials of different sources will also be presented.
Highlights
Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are a family of glycans comprising long, linear polysaccharides that display a wide range of relevant biological roles
This review focuses on the use of GAG for producing 3D networks with improved biological activity and mechanical properties
The authors modified HA backbone with collagen-binding peptides (LSELRLHNN) from decorin, promoting reversible, dynamic physical interactions between collagen and HA [92]. This HA modification led to an increase in G’ of more than an order of magnitude in collagen/modified-HA gels when comparing to collagen/non-modified HA or collagen alone, which is indicative of supramolecular network formation in the newly designed system [92]
Summary
Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) are a family of glycans comprising long, linear polysaccharides that display a wide range of relevant biological roles. From the combination of different uronic acid and amino sugars, four main groups of GAG can be distinguished: heparin (HEP) and heparan sulfates (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS), keratan sulfate (KS) and hyaluronic acid (HA, known as hyaluronan) (Figure 1). HA is one a major focus will be given to ECM GAG and their applications in the development of exception, occurring as a free GAG, able to physically interact with other GAG and PG through specific new biomaterials for Tissue Engineering (TE) and Regenerative Medicine (RM) HEP presents a distinctive feature, as it is typically released from mast cells the implication of ECM GAG and their PG in a wide variety of biological processes, including attached to a small peptide, following cleavage from its core protein [10].
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