Elastin polysaccharides

Abstract Synthetic polymers and biopolymers are extensively used within the field of tissue engineering. Some common examples of these materials include polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, collagen, elastin, and various forms of polysaccharides. In terms of application, these materials are primarily used in the construction of scaffolds that aid in the local delivery of cells and growth factors, and in many cases fulfill a mechanical role in supporting physiologic loads that would otherwise be supported by a healthy tissue. In this review we will examine the development of scaffolds derived from biopolymers and their use with various cell types in the context of tissue engineering the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc. 

Hyaluronic acid is a component of the extracellular ground substance which surrounds the collagen and elastin fibres and cells of connective tissue [64], It is a member of the group of polysaccharides isolated from vertebrate connective tissues which were formerly called mucopolysaccharides and are now more commonly referred to as glycosaminoglycans [65,66], Glycosaminoglycans commonly occur in vivo as proteoglycans. 

A youthful state of skin is generally measured by its elasticity and tautness. Collagen and elastin in the dermis contribute to these properties. However, with age and adverse environmental effects such as UV radiation, lack of moisture, etc., the elasticity and tautness of skin decreases and the skin wrinkles and shows sign of aging. Exposure to UV radiation and aging leads to a decrease in hyaluronic acid and polysaccharides and excessive production of an enzyme called elastase. This enzyme destroys elastin and leads to loss of skin elasticity. 

Bioadhesives may basically consist of proteins, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and hpids. These substances occur mostly in combination. The adhesives of the well-studied blue mussel Mytilus edulis) and of barnacles are proteinaceous materials. Other well-known proteins with adhesive properties are elastin, collagen, fibronectin, laminin, fibrinogen, and keratin. 

Collagen and Elastin, The Determination of (Jackson and Cleary).. Color Reactions, New, for Determination of Sugars in Polysaccharides... 

Natural polymers such as collagen, elastin, and fibrin make up much of the body s native extracellular matrix (ECM), and they were explored as platforms for tissue engineered constructs [34,47 9]. Polysaccharides such as chitosan, starch, alginate, and dextran were also studied for these purposes. Simultaneously, silk fibroin was widely explored for vascular applications due to its higher mechanical properties in comparison to other natural polymers, such as fibrin [48]. The utilization of natural polymers to create tissue-engineered scaffolds has yielded promising results, both in vitro and in vivo, due in part to the enhanced bioactivity provided by materials normally found within the human body [50]. However, their mechanical response is usually below the required values therefore, synthetic polymers have been explored to achieve the desired properties. 

There are several types of biodegradable polymers. A common classification is based on the distinction between natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers. Natural biodegradable polymers are typically produced directly by living organisms, and they are extracted from them a posteriori. The most common biodegradable natural polymers are collagen, elastin, fibrin, and several polysaccharide derivatives, such as... 

Ligaments are dense connective tissnes constituted by a protein phase (collagen and elastin) and a polysaccharide phase (proteoglycans). The elastic modulus of ligament is about 150-355MPa, and the tensile strength is less than 50MPa. Their mechanical properties are determined by the relative amount of the two phases as... 

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