glycosaminoglycanbased

Glycosaminoglycan-based materials are polymeric systems that incorporate glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or GAG-derived motifs as a central component. GAGs are long, unbranched polysaccharides composed of repeating disaccharide units, often sulfated, and are abundant in the extracellular matrix as part of proteoglycans. Common GAGs include hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, keratan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and heparin.

GAG-based materials can be used in natural or modified forms and frequently form hydrogels with high water content and tunable mechanical properties, thereby mimicking aspects of the extracellular matrix. Their highly anionic character and specific interactions with proteins enable binding and presentation of growth factors and cytokines, influencing cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Material properties are controlled by molecular weight, sulfation patterns, crosslinking, and integration with other polymers.

Production and modification approaches include extraction from animal tissues, fermentation or chemoenzymatic synthesis, and chemical or enzymatic modification to enable crosslinking or functionalization. Common crosslinking strategies involve carbodiimide chemistry, click reactions, or oxidation, yielding NFC- or gelatin–GAG hybrids and other composites.

Applications span tissue engineering scaffolds for cartilage, skin, and nerve regeneration; drug and gene delivery systems that leverage GAG–growth factor interactions; ophthalmic and cosmetic uses, notably hyaluronic acid derivatives as viscoelastic agents and fillers. Challenges include batch-to-batch variability, potential immunogenicity, sterilization and storage stability, and regulatory considerations. When well designed, GAG-based materials offer biocompatibility and ECM-mimetic properties that support regenerative medicine and drug delivery.