Abstract
Biopolymers are extensively used for developing drug delivery systems as they are easily available, economical, readily modified, nontoxic, biodegradable and biocompatible. Thiolation is a well reported approach for enhancing mucoadhesive and mechanical properties of polymers. In the present review article, for the modification of biopolymers different thiolation methods and evaluation/characterization techniques have been discussed in detail. Reported literature on thiolated biopolymers with enhanced mechanical and mucoadhesive properties has been presented conspicuously in text as well as in tabular form. Patents filed by researchers on thiolated polymers have also been presented. In conclusion, thiolation is an easily reproducible and efficient method for customization of mucoadhesive and mechanical properties of biopolymers for drug delivery applications.
Highlights
Biopolymers are the polymers of biological origin and biocompatible/biodegradable
According to monomeric unit and structurally, biopolymers are diversified into three main classes named as polynucleotides; RNA and DNA, are comprised of 13 or more monomers, polypeptides, consist of amino acids and lastly, the polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate structures which are linearly bonded
Atomic force microscopic images of unmodified slide showed roughness average (Ra = 8.1 nm) with smooth and flat surface in comparison to Pluronic–poly(acrylic acid)-modified microsphere slide imaged in air (Ra = 21.8 nm), and Pluronic–poly(acrylic acid)-modified microsphere slide imaged in phosphate buffer solution (Ra = 61.5 nm)
Summary
Biopolymers are the polymers of biological origin and biocompatible/biodegradable They are known as bio-polymeric molecules, bio-molecules, biomaterials. According to monomeric unit and structurally, biopolymers are diversified into three main classes named as polynucleotides (long polymers); RNA and DNA, are comprised of 13 or more monomers (nucleotide), polypeptides (short polymers), consist of amino acids and lastly, the polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate structures which are linearly bonded. They occur in our environment and can be extracted, foremost these are both soluble and insoluble in water [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
