Carbohydrate Polymers[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Double-network PVA/γ-PGA/fucoidan hydrogels with favourable biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory activity for wound healing.
Li A, Yang J, He Y … +2 more , Qu C, Miao J
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173601 · Publisher ↗
Acute wound healing still faces numerous challenges, such as excessive inflammatory response, prolonged hemostasis time, and insufficient tissue regeneration, which often lead to delayed wound healing and scar formation....
Acute wound healing still faces numerous challenges, such as excessive inflammatory response, prolonged hemostasis time, and insufficient tissue regeneration, which often lead to delayed wound healing and scar formation. To address these issues, this study developed a multifunctional "physical-ionic" dual-network hydrogel (PPF hydrogel). This hydrogel combines an elastic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) scaffold with a rigid ionic network composed of γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) and fucoidan, cross-linked via Ca. The resulting hydrogel possesses a highly interconnected porous structure, exhibiting excellent mechanical strength and moderate tissue adhesion. In vitro and in vivo evaluations showed that the PPF hydrogel has good blood and cell compatibility, rapidly achieving hemostasis and promoting the proliferation and migration of L929 fibroblasts. In a mouse full-thickness skin resection model, the PPF significantly accelerated wound closure while reducing epidermal hyperplasia and promoting orderly collagen deposition. Mechanistically, the PPF effectively modulates the immune microenvironment by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) and upregulating anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10) and VEGF. This regulation promotes M2 macrophage polarization and angiogenesis, thereby accelerating the transition from the inflammatory phase to the remodeling phase. This dual-network hydrogel offers a promising therapeutic strategy for high-quality acute wound repair in regenerative medicine.
Unveiling and suppressing side reactions in the deacetylation and deaminative depolymerization of fucosylated chondroitin sulfate for enhanced oligosaccharide preparation.
Yang S, Pan Y, Ma W … +5 more , Zeng H, Gao N, Sun W, Yin R, Zhao J
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173600 · Publisher ↗
Deacetylative-deaminative depolymerization represents a critical methodology for selective glycosidic bond cleavage in glycosaminoglycans, essential for structural elucidation and bioactive oligosaccharide preparation. W...
Deacetylative-deaminative depolymerization represents a critical methodology for selective glycosidic bond cleavage in glycosaminoglycans, essential for structural elucidation and bioactive oligosaccharide preparation. While concurrent side reactions in fucosylated chondroitin sulfate (FCS) during this process remain poorly understood. Using highly regular FCS from Stichopus horrens as a model, side reactions during hydrazinolysis and deamination cleavage were systematically characterized. We report the first discovery that backbone glycosidic bond scission-preferentially at β1,3-linkages-dominates the de-N-acetylation step, with both deacetylation and this side reaction following first-order kinetics. Notably, GlcA residues at newly exposed reducing ends may undergo unique reductive-isomerization under hydrazinolysis condition. Orthogonal design optimization achieved 1.9-fold higher efficiency in generating deacetylated units versus conventional methods. Additionally, nitrite-mediated "peeling-off" was identified as the critical side reaction during deaminative cleavage, wherein residual nitrous acid species "peel" the target oligosaccharides. Scavenger screening demonstrated that immediate introduction of l-ascorbic acid, ammonium salts, or organic amines effectively quenches this side reaction, eliminating by-products and enhancing reproducibility. This study clarifies the key side reactions during the deacetylation-deaminative depolymerization of FCS, laying the methodological foundation for precise structural analysis of FCS and development of FCS-based therapeutics.
Distinct degradation behavior of crystalline and amorphous domains in cellulose under ionizing radiation.
Hwang Y, Potthast A, Jeong MJ
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173599 · Publisher ↗
Cellulose typically undergoes hydrolytic degradation predominantly in amorphous regions, while crystalline domains are considered relatively stable. In contrast, ionizing radiation induces chain scission throughout the c...
Cellulose typically undergoes hydrolytic degradation predominantly in amorphous regions, while crystalline domains are considered relatively stable. In contrast, ionizing radiation induces chain scission throughout the cellulose structure without inherent structural selectivity; however, because moisture is distributed differently between amorphous and crystalline domains, the resulting degradation behavior may differ between these structural regions. In this study, cellulose degradation under gamma-ray and X-ray irradiation was evaluated under dried, standard, and water-saturated conditions based on changes in degree of polymerization, carbonyl content, zero-span tensile strength, and leveling-off degree of polymerization (LODP). The results showed that radiation-induced degradation varied with moisture condition and differed from thermal aging behavior. Radiation-induced chain scission was more pronounced under dried conditions, whereas oxidative modification became more pronounced under wet conditions with increasing dose. These findings indicate that, although radiation-induced chain scission is intrinsically non-selective, the extent and distribution of chain scission differ between crystalline and amorphous regions, reflecting differences in moisture distribution between these domains. Compared with thermally aged papers at similar DP, irradiated papers retained higher mechanical strength, suggesting a structural pattern of degradation distinct from that of thermal aging. Overall, moisture associated with amorphous regions appears to influence the pathways of radiation-induced chain scission and oxidation.
Lactic acid-mediated chitosan/starch complexation: A green strategy for synergistically enhancing resistant starch content and sensory quality in lotus root starch-based foods.
Qu J, Liu Y, Li J … +6 more , Zhao H, Li J, Dong D, Yuan C, Zhao M, Cui B
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173598 · Publisher ↗
Developing starch-based foods with high digestive resistance, viscosity, and palatability remains challenging. This work proposed a new strategy: chitosan (CS) was dissolved using lactic acid (LA) instead of traditional...
Developing starch-based foods with high digestive resistance, viscosity, and palatability remains challenging. This work proposed a new strategy: chitosan (CS) was dissolved using lactic acid (LA) instead of traditional acetic acid (AA) and then mixed with wet lotus root starch (LRS) during its extraction process to fabricate LRS-CS complexes. After adding 2.0% (w/w) LA-dissolved CS, the contents of resistant starch (RS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS) in the complex increased from 11.06% and 16.04% to 21.37% and 26.67%, respectively, compared with pure LRS. Meanwhile, the peak viscosity of the complex also increased from 3969 cP to 4195 cP. Sensory evaluation showed that the LA-based complex exhibited superior sensory properties compared to the AA-based complex, with a milder odor, smoother viscosity, and higher uniformity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the 3600-3000 cm peak width of samples gradually broadened with increasing CS concentration, indicating hydrogen bonding between starch -OH and CS -NH₂. Particle size distribution and scanning electron microscopy showed CS induced LRS particle aggregation and surface coating; this effect was further enhanced as the CS concentration increased. This work provides a novel method for developing LRS-based foods with simultaneous high digestive resistance, high viscosity, and good palatability.
Cyclodextrin and its derivatives for the structural regulation of epoxy resins: Chemistry, mechanisms, and emerging applications.
Jin R, Zhou Z, Qu L … +1 more , Xu B
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173597 · Publisher ↗
As a crucial high-performance thermosetting material, EP exhibits significant limitations in high-end applications due to its high crosslink density, resulting in brittleness, poor impact resistance, flammability, and la...
As a crucial high-performance thermosetting material, EP exhibits significant limitations in high-end applications due to its high crosslink density, resulting in brittleness, poor impact resistance, flammability, and lack of self-healing capability. CD and its CP derivatives offer a novel paradigm for optimising EP properties and enabling functional innovation through their unique 'hydrophobic interior-hydrophilic exterior' cavity structure and dynamically reversible host-guest interactions. This paper systematically reviews the functionalisation progress of CD and CP systems in epoxy resins, covering three aspects: an introduction to CD and CP; the synthesis of CD and CP derivatives for EP applications; and the application performance and mechanism of action of CD and CP in EP.
Detection of highly hydrophilic glycopeptides in reverse-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry after TMTPro Zero labeling.
Cramer DAT, Torrente-López A, Moran AB … +5 more , Koeleman CAM, Al Kaabi A, Anish C, Beurret M, Wuhrer M
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173596 · Publisher ↗
Bottom-up analysis of glycopeptides by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) plays a critical role in the detection and relative quantification of all glycoforms at each glycosylation site. Reversed-phase (RP)...
Bottom-up analysis of glycopeptides by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) plays a critical role in the detection and relative quantification of all glycoforms at each glycosylation site. Reversed-phase (RP) nanoLC-MS in particular is a favored technique for analyzing highly glycosylated proteins due to its sensitivity and accessibility. However, analyzing glycopeptides with large, diverse glycan chains presents challenges such as insufficient and largely varying chromatographic retention. Specifically, hydrophilic glycopeptides consisting of a short, hydrophilic peptide portion with a large, hydrophilic glycan are not retained. We present a RP-nanoLC-MS method that allows for the full characterization of highly hydrophilic glycopeptides. Glycopeptide retention was increased using the amine-reactive and relatively hydrophobic TMTPro Zero label that was covalently attached to all (glyco)peptides. To further increase retention, endoproteinase Lys-C was used to perform proteolysis, generating glycopeptides exhibiting two primary amine groups that were labeled with two TMTPro Zero tags, thereby achieving RP retention of the most hydrophilic glycopeptide analytes. The workflow was applied to two E. coli O-antigen bioconjugates exhibiting highly diverse N-glycopeptides with glycan chains ranging in size between 4 and more than 70 monosaccharides. This optimized approach enables bottom-up analysis of glycoproteins exhibiting large glycans of very high hydrophilicity, supporting comprehensive site-specific glycosylation analysis. HYPOTHESIS: Different glycopeptides with unfavorable chromatographic properties can be detected and characterized using TMTPro Zero labeling and mass spectrometry.
Energy-efficient fabrication of lignin-containing microfibrillated cellulose via high-consistency alkali kneading.
Choi SR, Lee JM
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173595 · Publisher ↗
Although microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) has attracted considerable attention as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymers, its large-scale production remains constrained owing to the high energy requirement...
Although microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) has attracted considerable attention as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymers, its large-scale production remains constrained owing to the high energy requirement of mechanical fibrillation. This study presents an energy-efficient approach to producing lignin-containing MFC (L-MFC) from organosolv pulp (OP) via a high-consistency, dough-like alkali-kneading pretreatment. Lengths of the lignocellulose fibers derived from OP were relatively short, which is advantageous for subsequent mechanical fibrillation. Using L-MFC C prepared via 15 wt% high-concentration alkali kneading pretreatment (Method C) reduced energy consumption by up to 35% and shortened homogenization processing time by approximately 32% relative to the other methods. The L-MFC C five-pass film, despite its high residual lignin content, exhibited a tensile strength comparable to that of a commercial enzymatically pretreated cellulose nanofibril film processed through ten homogenization passes. In addition, this L-MFC film possessed good barrier properties against oxygen and water vapor. This suggests that the proposed pretreatment method provides a route to economically and feasibly produce L-MFC and is expected to be applied in the development of sustainable bio-based packaging materials.
Moisture-dependent transition from strong to weak hydrogen bonding in wood polysaccharides.
Majstorović F, Sandak J
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173594 · Publisher ↗
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis was employed to investigate moisture-dependent hydrogen bonding of water in softwood cell walls. Spectral variations at equilibrium moisture contents w...
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis was employed to investigate moisture-dependent hydrogen bonding of water in softwood cell walls. Spectral variations at equilibrium moisture contents were analyzed using principal component analysis and perturbation-correlation moving-window two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy to distinguish water populations with varying hydrogen-bond strengths. A distinct transition in hydrogen-bonding behavior was identified at approximately 10% wood moisture content. Below this threshold, water was found to predominantly engage in strong hydrogen bonds within wood cell walls. Above 10% moisture content, the relative contribution of strong hydrogen bonds to the overall wood-water hydrogen bond network decreased, whereas weakly hydrogen-bonded population became increasingly dominant. Experiments on modified wood and isolated polymers indicated that this transition originates mainly from wood polysaccharides, while lignin plays a minor role. These findings provide strong evidence for distinct water populations in wood cell walls, distinguished by their intermolecular hydrogen-bonding energies and predominant at specific wood moisture contents.
Ultrarobust alginate-based temperature sensing fiber across subzero to above zero self-healing performance enabled by polyphenol-nanosphere engineered multiple dynamic bonds.
Li X, He X, Zhou M … +7 more , Yu Z, Zheng Q, Gan H, Wang Y, Jiang Q, He H, Yu Z
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173593 · Publisher ↗
Polysaccharide-based self-healing sensing fibers offer a promising green and durable pathway for wearable electronics, yet their effective healing ability in subzero environments still faces significant challenges. Herei...
Polysaccharide-based self-healing sensing fibers offer a promising green and durable pathway for wearable electronics, yet their effective healing ability in subzero environments still faces significant challenges. Herein, we present a subzero self-healing temperature-sensing (SST) fiber by incorporating tannic acid-Fe self-assembled nanospheres (TAN) into a sodium alginate/oxidized sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan matrix. The synergy of multiple dynamic bonds and a rapid local molecular rearrangement mechanism with low activation energy endows SST sensing fiber with exceptional self-healing capabilities at subzero temperatures, achieving a strength retention of 65.7% at -10 °C after being cut. Specifically, the addition of TAN significantly enhances the stretchability (approximately 65%) of SST sensing fibers and exhibits remarkable water-responsive self-healing efficiency (97.64% at 25 °C). In addition, incorporating TiCT MXene nanosheets endows the SST fiber with broad temperature-sensing capability from 50 to 500 °C, attributed to the linear correlation between output voltage intensity and temperature (U = 0.0115T - 0.1582, R = 0.99). Furthermore, the SST fiber integrated with a wireless system demonstrates rapid response times (1.7 s) and reliable cyclic stability in temperature detection. This work provides a viable approach for designing bio-based temperature-sensing fibers that possess wide-temperature-adaptive self-healing ability for enhanced reliability and durability in practical wearable applications.
Dimensionality-controlled alginate-based composite hydrogel electrolytes for low-tortuosity ion transport in long-life aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitors.
Nguyen TB, Tran TT, Kang SJ … +2 more , Jeong HM, Suhr J
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173592 · Publisher ↗
Conventional hydrogel electrolytes for zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) fail to stabilize Zn deposition because weak control over ion transport pathways and insufficient regulation of water state promote dendrite growt...
Conventional hydrogel electrolytes for zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) fail to stabilize Zn deposition because weak control over ion transport pathways and insufficient regulation of water state promote dendrite growth and side reactions. Here, we develop dimensionality-engineered composite hydrogel electrolytes (CHEs) based on crosslinked polyacrylamide reinforced with carboxylate-relevant chain-like alginate (Alg, a polysaccharide) and sheet-like graphene oxide (GO), enabling a systematic comparison of dimensionality-distinct reinforcements within a common hydrogel framework. Under chemistry-relevant carboxylate coordination environments, Alg forms more continuous, low-tortuosity ion transport pathways that homogenize Zn flux, whereas GO is more susceptible to restacking/agglomeration, leading to more tortuous or partially obstructed transport. In concentrated Zn-based electrolytes, the optimized Alg-based CHE (APH_ZC) exhibits an interconnected porous structure, high ionic conductivity (43.17 mS cm), reduced highly mobile/reactive water, and robust network integrity. As a result, a ZIHC employing APH_ZC operates stably over an expanded 1.8 V window, delivers an energy density of 121.5 W h kg, and retains 84% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. Overall, this work establishes a structure-property-performance relationship showing that polysaccharide-enabled dimensionality control, coupled with zincophilic carboxylate chemistry, governs ion-pathway tortuosity, water-state regulation, and Zn deposition behavior, thereby providing a practical design principle for CHEs in Zn-based energy storage systems.
Cellulose nanocrystal-based multi-stimuli-responsive Pickering emulsion for targeted pesticide delivery: Enhancing foliar retention, photostability, and biosafety.
Peng L, Li K, Huang J
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173591 · Publisher ↗
Stimulus-responsive pesticide delivery systems are of significant importance for improving pesticide utilization efficiency. In this study, biodegradable natural polysaccharide cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were employed...
Stimulus-responsive pesticide delivery systems are of significant importance for improving pesticide utilization efficiency. In this study, biodegradable natural polysaccharide cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were employed as the carrier. Polydopamine-coated CNC (PDA@CNC) was first prepared through the oxidative self-polymerization of dopamine under alkaline conditions. Subsequently, the P(NIPAM-b-AA-b-RG) block copolymer was grown on its surface via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, yielding solid nanoparticles (PDA@CNC/PNAR) with dynamically tunable hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. Using these nanoparticles as emulsifiers, an oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion was constructed. This emulsion could be reversibly and repeatedly switched between emulsified and demulsified states under stimulation by pH, temperature, and near-infrared light. When used to load chlorpyrifos (CPF), the resulting CPF@PE system exhibited enhanced CPF photostability, wettability, adhesion, and rainfastness on leaf surfaces, as well as targeted and controlled release of CPF in response to environmental changes. In vitro insecticidal activity tests demonstrated that CPF@PE exhibited superior control efficacy against aphids while showing 50% lower acute toxicity to zebrafish compared with free CPF. In summary, the Pickering emulsion constructed in this study provides a novel strategy for developing environmentally friendly and intelligently responsive precision pesticide delivery systems.
Antibacterial and cell-instructive chitosan/NeoNectin hydrogels crosslinked via click chemistry enable osteogenic differentiation within ultra-soft matrices.
Cabrerizo-Aguado D, Barbugian F, Ginebra MP … +4 more , Wang X, Baker D, Manero JM, Guillem-Marti J
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173590 · Publisher ↗
Hydrogels are attractive scaffolds for regenerative medicine, yet few systems combine robust mechanical performance, antimicrobial functionality, and controlled bioactivity. Here, we engineered chitosan-based hydrogels c...
Hydrogels are attractive scaffolds for regenerative medicine, yet few systems combine robust mechanical performance, antimicrobial functionality, and controlled bioactivity. Here, we engineered chitosan-based hydrogels crosslinked via strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) using 4-arm PEG-DBCO and functionalized with NeoNectin, a de novo-designed protein exhibiting subnanomolar affinity and high specificity for integrin α5β1. Rheological analysis confirmed stable hydrogel formation with an elastic modulus of ∼0.1 kPa, within the physiological range of bone marrow and typically associated with maintenance of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in an undifferentiated state, enabling evaluation of integrin-specific biochemical cues in an inhibitory mechanical environment. Antimicrobial assays confirmed intrinsic bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, mitigating infection risks associated with implantation. Encapsulated human MSCs maintained high viability across all groups, validating cytocompatibility of the SPAAC crosslinking. Importantly, only covalently immobilized NeoNectin promoted sustained proliferation, increased expression of osteogenic genes, and significantly enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity, despite the low stiffness of the hydrogel matrix. These findings demonstrate that α5β1-specific signaling can override mechanical cues and drive osteogenic differentiation within ultra-soft environments. Overall, NeoNectin-functionalized SPAAC hydrogels provide a multifunctional platform that integrates antimicrobial properties, mechanical stability, and cell-instructive signaling for bone regeneration and broader tissue engineering applications.
Engineering dual α-1,3/α-1,6 glycosidic bonds in starch via a novel maltotriosyl transferase for enhanced slow digestion and stability.
Yang T, Huang Y, Wang C … +4 more , Luo S, Xu Y, Huang J, Jin M
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173589 · Publisher ↗
Designing starch with tailored digestibility and stability remains a challenge, as achieving multi-faceted structural modifications typically requires complex multi-enzyme processes. To address this, we report on a recom...
Designing starch with tailored digestibility and stability remains a challenge, as achieving multi-faceted structural modifications typically requires complex multi-enzyme processes. To address this, we report on a recombinant maltotriosyl transferase (MTase) from Aeribacillus pallidus, efficiently expressed in a food-grade host and exhibited robust catalytic activity. This enzyme serves as a dual-specificity biocatalyst, uniquely enabling the concurrent introduction of both α-1,3 (17%) and α-1,6 (33%) glycosidic linkages into waxy corn starch in a single, streamlined step. This catalytic action triggered a profound multi-scale structural transformation, leading to a short-chain, hyper-branched polymer (DP ≤13 increased to 76.9%), a marked reduction in molecular weight, and the reassembly of fragments into a dense lamellar network as visualized by cryo-SEM. These changes synergistically enhanced functional properties: the contents of slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) increased by approximately 129% and 54%, respectively, while the modified starch also achieved high cold-water solubility (90.01%) and exceptional freeze-thaw stability (water release <20% after 25 cycles). This study establishes a direct correlation between the engineered hybrid-branched (α-1,3/α-1,6), short-chain architecture and the concurrent improvement in nutritional and physicochemical properties of starch.
Decoding the temporal regulome of wheat starch: Wx allelic hierarchy unveils novel negative regulators.
Zhang S, Zhang Y, Tian Y … +9 more , Song L, Ibba MI, Bao J, Liu H, Li X, Blennow A, Zhang A, Liu X, Liu D
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173588 · Publisher ↗
The temporal regulation of the three homoeologous Wx genes, which direct amylose biosynthesis in wheat, remains unclear, hindering a systems-level understanding of this pathway. Using near-isogenic lines (NILs), we delin...
The temporal regulation of the three homoeologous Wx genes, which direct amylose biosynthesis in wheat, remains unclear, hindering a systems-level understanding of this pathway. Using near-isogenic lines (NILs), we delineated their allele-specific regulatory hierarchy during grain filling. Amylose content decreased in a strict gene dosage-dependent manner, accompanied by a compensatory increase in the amylopectin fraction from 15 days after pollination (DAP). Loss-of-function Wx alleles significantly altered starch granule morphology, increasing the proportion of smaller B-type granules during later stages, with the triple-deletion line (BBB) producing markedly smaller and irregular B-type granules. These deletions also reduced granule nano-lamellar thickness and remodeled internal starch architecture, changes that were linked to higher proportion of short-chain amylopectin. These structural changes led to altered pasting properties, including reduced viscosity and a broader gelatinization temperature range. Integrated transcriptomic profiling revealed that Wx deficiency influenced central metabolic pathways, including carbohydrate and starch-sucrose metabolism. This analysis identified a glycoside hydrolase family 9 protein (TaGHF9) and a domain of unknown function-containing protein (TaDUF) as novel negative regulators of amylose biosynthesis, whose function was validated using EMS-induced mutants. Our study establishes the temporal effects of Wx alleles, unveiling a multi-level regulatory network and precision targets for improving wheat starch quality.
CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knockout of MeSSI enhances resistant starch content without compromising yield in cassava.
Lu X, Wang Y, Che Y … +10 more , Li Y, Nong B, Ge Y, Wang X, Guo Y, Li R, Liu J, Guo J, Yao Y, Geng M
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173587 · Publisher ↗
Enhancing resistant starch (RS) content in cassava is vital for developing nutritionally improved, functional food crops. In this study, targeted mutagenesis of the MeSSI gene via CRISPR/Cas9 was conducted to investigate...
Enhancing resistant starch (RS) content in cassava is vital for developing nutritionally improved, functional food crops. In this study, targeted mutagenesis of the MeSSI gene via CRISPR/Cas9 was conducted to investigate its role in starch biosynthesis and RS accumulation. MeSSI knockout lines exhibited a 6.74-fold increase in RS content and a 16.42% elevation in amylose levels compared to the wild-type, without compromising total starch content or root yield. Starch structural analysis revealed an increased number of smaller granules per amyloplast and a shift in amylopectin chain-length distribution, characterized by reduced short chains (DP 6-12) and enrichment of intermediate and long chains, resulting in a lower branching degree. These modifications were associated with enhanced thermal stability and altered pasting behavior. Transcriptomic profiling indicated compensatory upregulation of AGPase subunits, and glycolytic genes, suggesting a reprogramming of carbon metabolism to sustain starch accumulation. This work identifies MeSSI as a key determinant of amylopectin fine structure and RS formation, providing a precise genome-editing strategy to improve the nutritional profile of cassava.
Seaweed-Derived Polysaccharide Hydrogels for Diabetic Wound Healing: Strategies, Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications.
Sathishkumar K, Patel ND, Santhoshkumar M … +5 more , Ponnusamy CS, Velu SKP, Alam MM, Al-Sehemi AG, Parthipan P
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173586 · Publisher ↗
Chronic diabetic wounds remain a major clinical burden due to persistent oxidative stress, microbial infection and impaired vascularization. Composite seaweed-derived hydrogels engineered from sulfated polysaccharides su...
Chronic diabetic wounds remain a major clinical burden due to persistent oxidative stress, microbial infection and impaired vascularization. Composite seaweed-derived hydrogels engineered from sulfated polysaccharides such as alginate, fucoidan, laminarin, carrageenan, agarose and ulvan offer a promising biomaterial platform that integrates mechanical robustness with bioactivity. The unique chemistry of marine polysaccharides, featuring carboxyl and sulfate groups, provides intrinsic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and angiogenic functions while enabling facile chemical modification and crosslinking. Through hybridization with biopolymers, nanoparticles and therapeutic agents, these composites achieve tunable viscoelasticity, controlled degradation and sustained release of bioactives. Their multifunctional mechanisms include ROS scavenging, cytokine suppression, macrophage polarization, VEGF stabilization and antibacterial action, collectively restoring the wound microenvironment. Advanced fabrication techniques such as 3D bioprinting, microfluidic gelation and stimuli-responsive design further enhance spatial control and therapeutic precision. Despite promising preclinical outcomes, translational challenges remain regarding standardization, structural reproducibility and clinical validation. This review consolidates recent progress in the chemistry, engineering and biological performance of seaweed-based composite hydrogels, highlighting their emerging role as intelligent, bioinstructive platforms for diabetic wound regeneration and next-generation wound-care technology.
Agar-modified gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol-based tough hydrogels for 3D printing to prepare multifunctional sensors and flexible supercapacitors.
Hu Y, Liu C, Zhang H … +3 more , Bao W, Wang F, Maimaitiyiming X
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173585 · Publisher ↗
Gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol-based conductive hydrogels hold great potential in wearable electronics but face challenges such as weak mechanical properties and poor freeze resistance. To overcome these limitations, this stu...
Gelatin/polyvinyl alcohol-based conductive hydrogels hold great potential in wearable electronics but face challenges such as weak mechanical properties and poor freeze resistance. To overcome these limitations, this study successfully employed a multi-network construction strategy to prepare a zwitterionic multifunctional hydrogel based on gelatin-polyvinyl alcohol-betaine‑sodium alginate (Gel-PVA-Betaine-SA) and modified with agar. This hydrogel material, through the synergistic combination of gelatin, agar, PVA and sodium alginate, and the introduction of zwitterions/small molecules such as betaine and glycerol for synergistic regulation, exhibits a variety of excellent properties. Specifically, the hydrogel ink possesses good 3D printing capability, the hydrogel adhesive exhibits adhesive properties, and the hydrogel material can maintain its flexibility at low temperatures (-20 °C). Furthermore, when used as a flexible sensor, the hydrogel material can achieve dual-response functionality to mechanical deformation (GF = 1.994-7.50) and the environment (temperature-humidity) and demonstrates high stability in human motion monitoring. Finally, a supercapacitor assembled with Gel-PVA-Betaine-SA hydrogel as an electrolyte exhibits excellent electrochemical performance and can stably undergo 40,000 charge-discharge cycles. This study provides new ideas for the application of multifunctional hydrogels in the fields of wearable devices, sensing technology, and energy storage devices.
Gradient functionalized strategy towards flame-retardant and strong bacterial cellulose aerogel fibers for fire warning.
Kong D, Luo Q, Yu T … +6 more , Wang W, Zhou X, Zhang W, Wang D, Chen B, Fu S
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173584 · Publisher ↗
Traditional fibers such as polyester and polyacrylonitrile are increasingly unable to meet the growing demands of indoor textiles for sustainability, thermal insulation, flame retardance, and early fire warning. This wor...
Traditional fibers such as polyester and polyacrylonitrile are increasingly unable to meet the growing demands of indoor textiles for sustainability, thermal insulation, flame retardance, and early fire warning. This work proposes a gradient functionalized strategy to prepare highly multifunctional bacterial cellulose aerogel fibers through sequentially constructing a flame-retardant layer, a sensing layer, and a hydrophobic layer onto fiber surface. Moreover, synergistic effects can be exerted among the functional layers. The as-prepared fibers exhibit the outstanding flame-retardant properties and an ultra-high mechanical strength of 73.2 MPa. In addition, the aerogel fibers have an ultralow density of only 0.12 g·cm and a thermal conductivity as low as 0.058 W·m·K. The thermal insulation performance is far superior to those of traditional fibers including polyester, polyamide, and cotton. More importantly, the aerogel fibers demonstrate an exceptional fire-sensing capability, which could detect the flames and then trigger an alarm within 1 s. This study provides a novel strategy for the design and preparation of highly multifunctional and sustainable aerogel fibers for indoor textiles.
One-step generation and characterization of perfluorohexanone emulsions via modified Tessari method for sodium alginate-based microcapsule particles.
Bai J, Tan Y, Wang K … +3 more , Zhu C, Yu X, Zong R
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173583 · Publisher ↗
Lithium-ion battery fires pose significant risks due to high heat release and rapid propagation, making effective fire suppression critical. Perfluorohexanone (PFH) is a promising fire-fighting agent but suffers from hig...
Lithium-ion battery fires pose significant risks due to high heat release and rapid propagation, making effective fire suppression critical. Perfluorohexanone (PFH) is a promising fire-fighting agent but suffers from high volatility and short release duration, which can be mitigated by sodium alginate (SA)-based microcapsules. However, formulating stable PFH emulsions (essential for microcapsules) using SA solutions remains challenging due to the high interfacial energy of PFH. This study proposes a modified Tessari method, which uses two syringes to prepare a stable PFH emulsion in one step, for the manufacture of PFH@SA microcapsules. We systematically compared the emulsion stability between the modified Tessari method and classical stirring method, and investigated the effects of key parameters (viscosity, surface tension, PFH-to-water ratio, flow velocity, voltage, frequency) on emulsion stability, jetting modes, microcapsule size, and encapsulation efficiency. The results showed that the modified Tessari method exhibited superior efficiency and emulsion stability. Viscosity dominated the dripping-to-cone-jet transition of jetting modes (surface tension secondary), a moderate flow rate (2.5 mL/min) favored microcapsule formation, and a suitable core-to-shell ratio (1:4) ensured high encapsulation efficiency. The battery thermal runaway suppression tests further indicated the fire suppression potential of the resultant microcapsules. This study offers theoretical guidance for high-performance PFH microcapsule fabrication.
Biaxially constrained drying strategy for fabricating strong and tough quasi-isotropic alginate hydrogels.
Wang L, Gao W, Jiao Z … +5 more , Ma H, Wei Y, Guo H, Zhao J, Yuan X
Carbohydr Polym · 2026 Aug · PMID 42173582 · Publisher ↗
The application of hydrogels in flexible electronics and strain sensors devices is severely constrained by their intrinsic mechanical weaknesses. Conventional uniaxial orientation strategies enhance strength along one di...
The application of hydrogels in flexible electronics and strain sensors devices is severely constrained by their intrinsic mechanical weaknesses. Conventional uniaxial orientation strategies enhance strength along one direction but inevitably result in mechanical anisotropy within the plane, making them susceptible to failure under complex loads. This study presents a "Cooperative Ordered Arrangement" strategy to fabricate sodium alginate/polyacrylamide (SA/PAM) hydrogels with exceptional and uniform in-plane mechanical properties due to the alignment of SA parallel to the plane. The obtained hydrogel exhibits outstanding comprehensive properties with quasi-isotropic and uniformly reinforced in-plane performance. It delivers a tensile strength of 6.06 ± 0.15 MPa, a Young's modulus of 24.79 ± 0.86 MPa, a fracture toughness of 10.20 ± 0.55 MJ m, and a fracture strain of 226.88 ± 10.71%, consistently achieved along all in-plane directions. Meanwhile, the hydrogel also shows direction-insensitive strain-sensing behavior, exhibiting a high conductivity of 81.18 ± 1.91mS m and nearly identical relative resistance change (ΔR/R₀) trend under deformation regardless of the loading directions. This work provides an efficient manufacturing strategy for developing high-performance hydrogels with uniform in-plane characteristics, demonstrating their significant potential for use in demanding mechanical and sensing applications.
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