Bioactivity synthetic polymers

Nowadays, a strategic area of research is the development of polymers based on carbohydrates due to the worldwide focus on sustainable materials. Since the necessary multi-step synthesis of carbohydrate-based polymers is not economical for the production of commodity plastics, functionalization of synthetic polymers by carbohydrates has become a current subject of research. This aims to prepare new bioactive and biocompatible polymers capable of exerting a temporary therapeutic function. The large variety of methods of anchoring carbohydrates onto polymers as well as the current and potential applications of the functionalized polymers has been discussed recently in a critical review [171]. Of importance is that such modification renders not only functionality but also biodegradability to the synthetic polymers. 

Besides synthetic polymers and small molecules, biological or bioactive species are used in the functionalization of carbon nanotubes not only for water solubility but also enhanced biocompatibilities and biorecognition capabilities. Various proteins, DNAs, and carbohydrates have been covalently or noncovalently functionalized with carbon nanotubes, producing highly aqueous stable and biocompatible... 

Lastly we examine attempts to design structures for particular functions, namely, films that act as barriers and capsules that contain bioactive substances. In the future, we will need to create novelty in the long-term stability of products and delivery of specific molecules for a health benefit. These technologies are attracting attention not only from the food industry but also for nonfood use. Sustainable and environmentally friendly attributes of biomaterials are increasingly discussed, compared to petrochemically derived, synthetic polymers and plastics. For once, food materials scientists can teach other industries the rules of the game. ... 

Water soluble polymers are well represented in the human environn nt and in food. Thus, our very existence constitutes solid proof of the lack of the physiological effects of many of these compounds. Nevertheless, some water soluble synthetic polymers, even at very low concentrations, influence enzymatic processes that form the basis of the physiology of the body. The reason for a general lack of bioactivity of synthetic polymers on the organism s level is the inability of polymers to penetrate to the location where the body s basic biochemical processes occur. The human body s most prevailing component is water (>fi)%). However, this body of water is not a continuous phase, it is subdivided by lipid membranes into spaces of microscopic size. Lipids constitute about 15% of body weight and a considerable portion of that amount is used to form and maintain cellular membranes, a structural element of the body that diminishes the mobility of hydrophilic polymers in organisms. 

Natural bloactive polymers are essential to life and Include the proteins, nucleic acids and polysaccharides. Synthetic bioactive polymers are a more recent development but hundreds of possible examples have been reported with potential biological activity. In this brief, introductory review, the history, philosophy, mode of activity and the advantages of bloactive polymers are discussed emphasizing synthetic polymers. 

Maeda H, Oda T, Matsumura Y, and Kimura M, Improvement of pharmacological properties of protein-drugs by tailoring with synthetic polymers, J. Bioactive Comp. Polym. 1988 3 27-43. 

Soluble, synthetic polymers can be used as carriers for bioactive agents, an idea first proposed by Ringsdorf [14]. A wide variety of polymer chemistries and structures have been used as carriers for drugs and bioactive macromo-... 

Bioadhesion can be defined as the process by which a natural or a synthetic polymer can adhere to a biological substrate. When the biological substrate is a mucosal layer, the phenomenon is known as mucoadhesion. The substrate possessing bioadhesive property can help in devising a delivery system capable of delivering a bioactive agent for a prolonged period of time at a specific delivery site. 

Synthetic products have acquired a negative association due to synthetic food additives, but they show many valuable properties, especially in medical applications. Synthetic polymers are valuable for therapeutic use since they can be produced in a well-defined and controlled fashion, overcoming the greatest setback of natural polymers the batch-to-batch variation. Synthetic polymers often exhibit increased cytotoxicity due to the strong positive charge, but since they can be freely modified in order to introduce desired properties, their biocompatibility can be improved, for example by incorporation of biodegradable linkers and bioactive functionalities. ... 

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