Abstract
Scientists throughout the world are in search of novel modified biopolymer to fabricate smart drug delivery systems based on hydrogel formulations using several cross-linkers like glutaraldehyde, glyoxal, epichlorhydrin, adipic acid dihydrazide, carbodiimide, genipin, etc. Agents that are fused into the polymeric structure like isocyanates, glutaraldehyde, polyepoxides, etc., and are extremely toxic in nature. In addition, these are susceptible to percolate out into the body on biodegradation of polymeric structure. As an alternative to these toxic cross-linking agents, the periodate-Schiff base staining technique is widely being used for cross-linking in biology and biochemistry. The mechanism of this cross-linking technique is based on the reaction in-between the Schiff reagent and the aldehydes produced via the periodate oxidation. During the past few decades, several researchers have already been studied on the natural gums and also, developed their dialdehyde derivatives via the periodate oxidation technique. These periodate oxidized gums are being used to cross-link gelatin, other proteins and chitosan to develop various smart systems for drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound dressing, edible films, etc. The current review presents a comprehensive discussion of the available reported literature on the periodate oxidation of various gums and their use as natural cross-linker.
Highlights
Scientists are always striving to deliver dosage forms in the human body and these dosage forms are being prepared using various biocompatible as well as biodegradable polymeric systems, so that, the safe and efficacious delivery of drugs to the patients can be provided [1,2,3,4]
Due to the non-toxicity as well as biodegradability, various oxidized gums are being investigated as potential cross-linking agents for proteins and amino group-containing polymer in the preparation of hydrogels. The mechanism of this cross-linking technique is based on the reaction in-between the Schiff reagent and the aldehydes produced via the periodate oxidation [20, 21]
Several studies have recently been performed in the preparation of dialdehyde gums and their use as an effective cross-linker, whose aldehyde groups react with the 3-amino groups of hydroxylysine and lysine of protein molecules by the formations of Schiff’s bases [38,39]
Summary
Scientists are always striving to deliver dosage forms in the human body and these dosage forms are being prepared using various biocompatible as well as biodegradable polymeric systems, so that, the safe and efficacious delivery of drugs to the patients can be provided [1,2,3,4]. Due to the non-toxicity as well as biodegradability, various oxidized gums (polysaccharide dialdehydes) are being investigated as potential cross-linking agents for proteins and amino group-containing polymer in the preparation of hydrogels. The mechanism of this cross-linking technique is based on the reaction in-between the Schiff reagent and the aldehydes produced via the periodate oxidation [20, 21]. The reaction of periodate oxidation of polysaccharides is generally occurred via the wide cleavage of the polysaccharide-chains, where the vicinal diols (i.e., 1, 2-diols) are cleaved using periodic acid (HIO4) into 2 carbonyl (C=O) compounds [20]. Prior to the subsequent oxidative attack happens on the polysaccharidic chain, the protection of either one or both adjacentunit(s) occurs, instantaneously [28]
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