Recent Advances in Artificially Sulfated Polysaccharides for Applications in Cell Growth and Differentiation, Drug Delivery, and Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Artificially sulfated polysaccharides, as the mimetics of native heparin and heparan sulfate, are important bioactive compounds, since they show great potential for tuning crucial biological activities within living organisms. Herein, we summarize progress in the development of artificially sulfated polysaccharides, such as cellulose sulfate, chitosan sulfate, and other sulfated polysaccharides, with a particular focus on the fields of biomedical and bioengineering applications in the past ten years. Their effects on cell growth and differentiation, but also as building blocks for drug carriers and medical implants, are emphasized.

Keywords: biomimetic synthesis; drug delivery; growth factors; polysaccharides; sulfur.