title: Medical application of glycosaminoglycans: a review.
abstract: The characteristic molecular composition of the different glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) is related to their role as structural components and regulators of a multitude of functions of proteins, cells and tissues in the human body. Therefore, it is not surprising that GAGs are widely used as coating materials for implants, components of 3D-constructs such as tissue engineering scaffolds and hydrogels, but also as diagnostic devices such as biosensors and in controlled release applications. Beside a physisorption or encapsulation of GAGs, these applications often require their chemical modification to allow a stable covalent attachment on surfaces or cross-linking reactions with other molecules. Then, the preservation of the functionality of GAGs under maintenance of their biocompatibility is a challenging task and must be addressed in accordance with the designated field of application. Here, we will give a brief overview on structure and biological functions of GAGs, different methods of their activation and immobilization, the recent progress in GAG-related biomaterials development, as well as some examples of their application in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Materials Group, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Köwitsch
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Materials Group, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Guoying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Materials Group, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Groth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans
keywords: biomaterials; chemical modification; glycosaminoglycans; hydrogels; immobilization; proteoglycans; tissue engineering