Extracellular Sugar-Based Biopolymers Matrices

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an acellular, three-dimensional network composed of proteins, glycoproteins, proteoglycans and exopolysaccharides, that primarily serves as structural components in tissues and organs of plants and animals, or forms biofilms in which bacterial cells are embedded. The components of the ECM interact with each other and with adhesion receptors on the cell surface forming a complex association. Some of the cell surface receptors transduce signals from ECM into cells to control cellular homeostasis, cell survival, growth, migration and differentiation. The ECM is a highly dynamic structure which undergoes continuous remodelling, and any disruption is frequently found in the context of pathologic processes associated with severe diseases such as arteriosclerosis, neurodegenerative illness or cancer. Biofilms, which are sessile multicellular aggregates mediated by a network of cellulose or alginate in which bacteria are embedded, are concern to human health and resistance to antibiotics. Although exopolysaccharides are crucial for ECM formation and function, they have not received considerable recognition and compiled within a single book. Therefore, the chapters of the book Sugar-Based Biopolymers in Extracellular Matrices  comprehensively address and provide reviews on structural, biochemical, molecular and biophysical properties of exopolysaccharides Moreover, functional, medical and industrial applicative aspects will be considered. Exopolysaccharides are abundantly produced by almost all taxa including bacteria, algae, plants, fungi, invertebrates and vertebrates, and are biologically and ecologically vital for the survival of the organisms. Exopolysaccharides, which mostly perform structural functions, are diverse and variable in chemical composition and physicochemical properties. They include long unbranched homopolymers such as cellulose or chitin/chitosan, linear copolymers such as alginate and agarose, peptidoglycans such as murein; hetetopolymers like a variety of glycosaminoglycans (hyaluronan, dermatan, keratan, heparan, Pel), to branched heteropolymers such as pectin and cemicellulose.

Cellulose is globally the most abundant and economically the most important polysaccharide found in plants, algae and bacteria. The global organic biomass of chitin is second to cellulose. It is present inter alia in the cuticular matrices of arthropods, in peritrophic membranes of insects, in cell walls of fungi, and in the mineral-chitin composite of mollusks. Alginate and agarose are famous as gelling polysaccharides, while proteoglycans, the glycosylated and heavily sulfated chemical structures, are major components of animal extracellular matrices with substantial clinical significance.

A distinctive chapter is dedicated to the modern industrial and biomedical applications of exopolysaccharides. Their unique mechanical properties has generated much interest, inspired basic and applied research and has already been harnessed to form sophisticated biomimetics and structural biocomposite hybrids for tailored-made applications in medicine, engineering and defense.

The book provides basic and applied information for a plethora of scientists in diverse disciplines, as well as textbook and reference for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.