The Contribution of D-Glucosamine to Cell Membrane Stability: Mechanisms and Applications in Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

Chitosan is a well-known biomaterial. D-glucosamine, which consists of a natural amino monosaccharide, is the smallest molecular weight of chitosan. D-glucosamine is widely used for relieving the pain associated with osteoarthritis. It has recently been confirmed that D-glucosamine contributes to cell membrane stability in the biomedical field. D-glucosamine may control biological responses and protect both cells and tissues. This chapter briefly focuses the mechanisms of this stability in several important biomedical situations. Positive charged amino groups of D-glucosamine can bind the cell membrane electrically to protect against tissue damage. Wound healing can be accelerated by the application of a D-glucosamine dressing, which promotes cell proliferation and differentiation. D-glucosamine has superoxide/hydroxyl radical scavenging activities and a strong chelating effect on ferrous ions, and enhances the reduced glutathione level to promote activity against intracellular oxidative stress. The early and prompt repair of microleakage through electropores on the cell membrane occurs after electroporation using D-glucosamine. The effects of this stability can also explain the pain relief as D-glucosamine binds to sodium channel to result in a longer open time. Furthermore, specific applications of D-glucosamine are proposed for the regenerative medicine.