title: Crosslinking biopolymers for biomedical applications.
abstract: Biomaterials made from proteins, polysaccharides, and synthetic biopolymers are preferred but lack the mechanical properties and stability in aqueous environments necessary for medical applications. Crosslinking improves the properties of the biomaterials, but most crosslinkers either cause undesirable changes to the functionality of the biopolymers or result in cytotoxicity. Glutaraldehyde, the most widely used crosslinking agent, is difficult to handle and contradictory views have been presented on the cytotoxicity of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked materials. Recently, poly(carboxylic acids) that can crosslink in both dry and wet conditions have been shown to provide the desired improvements in tensile properties, increase in stability under aqueous conditions, and also promote cell attachment and proliferation. Green chemicals and newer crosslinking approaches are necessary to obtain biopolymeric materials with properties desired for medical applications.
authors.affiliation: Center for Emerging Technologies, Jain University, Jakkasandra Post, Ramanagara District, Bengaluru 562112, India. Electronic address: nreddy3@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Narendra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Center for Emerging Technologies, Jain University, Jakkasandra Post, Ramanagara District, Bengaluru 562112, India.
authors.forename: Roopa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, P.R. China; Department of Technical Textiles, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qiuran
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D005976:Glutaral / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001704:Biopolymers; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005976:Glutaral
keywords: biomaterials; biopolymers; carboxylic acids; crosslinking; physiological conditions; stability