Giant (Aug 2024)
Polysaccharide-based materials as an eco-friendly alternative in biomedical, environmental, and food packaging
Abstract
The global community has encountered numerous challenges concerning environmental sustainability, encompassing issues like waste generation, depletion of natural resources, air pollution, and other threats to human well-being. Consequently, the pursuit of an eco-friendly environment has emerged as a critical concern in recent years. Polysaccharides, being natural biopolymers, have garnered significant attention owing to their distinctive properties that make them versatile for various applications. Numerous sustainable and environmentally friendly polysaccharides, such as chitosan, cellulose, starch, hyaluronic acid, alginate, and inulin, have been identified. This article highlights the characteristics of renewable polysaccharides, their categorization, and their potential to contribute to environmental sustainability. It introduces environmentally friendly extraction methods aimed at minimizing chemical pollution. Through the careful selection of diverse polysaccharides and the application of functionalization techniques, the article suggests the possibility of obtaining suitable superabsorbent hydrogels, appropriate nanocomposites, and effective scaffolds. The significance of utilizing polysaccharide-based materials is explored in detail, emphasizing their exceptional properties. Additionally, the article discusses the various applications of eco-friendly polysaccharides as sustainable polymers, including in agriculture, biomedicine, and food packaging.
