School of Bio-Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India.
Department of Petrochemical Technology, University College of Engineering, BIT Campus, Anna University, Tiruchirappalli, 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India.
Environ Res. 2024 Jan 1;240(Pt 2):117521. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117521. Epub 2023 Oct 27.
Carbohydrates are a class of macromolecules that has significant potential across several domains, including the organisation of genetic material, provision of structural support, and facilitation of defence mechanisms against invasion. Their molecular diversity enables a vast array of essential functions, such as energy storage, immunological signalling, and the modification of food texture and consistency. Due to their rheological characteristics, solubility, sweetness, hygroscopicity, ability to prevent crystallization, flavour encapsulation, and coating capabilities, carbohydrates are useful in food products. Carbohydrates hold potential for the future of therapeutic development due to their important role in sustained drug release, drug targeting, immune antigens, and adjuvants. Bio-based packaging provides an emerging phase of materials that offer biodegradability and biocompatibility, serving as a substitute for traditional non-biodegradable polymers used as coatings on paper. Blending polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with carbohydrate biopolymers, such as starch, cellulose, polylactic acid, etc., reduces the undesirable qualities of PHA, such as crystallinity and brittleness, and enhances the PHA's properties in addition to minimizing manufacturing costs. Carbohydrate-based biopolymeric nanoparticles are a viable and cost-effective way to boost agricultural yields, which is crucial for the increasing global population. The use of biopolymeric nanoparticles derived from carbohydrates is a potential and economically viable approach to enhance the quality and quantity of agricultural harvests, which is of utmost importance given the developing global population. The carbohydrate biopolymers may play in plant protection against pathogenic fungi by inhibiting spore germination and mycelial growth, may act as effective elicitors inducing the plant immune system to cope with pathogens. Furthermore, they can be utilised as carriers in controlled-release formulations of agrochemicals or other active ingredients, offering an alternative approach to conventional fungicides. It is expected that this review provides an extensive summary of the application of carbohydrates in the realms of food, pharmaceuticals, and environment.
碳水化合物是一大类具有重要潜力的生物大分子，在多个领域都有广泛应用，包括遗传物质的组织、结构支撑的提供以及对入侵的防御机制的促进。它们的分子多样性使其具有广泛的重要功能，如能量储存、免疫信号传递以及食物质地和稠度的修饰。由于其流变特性、溶解度、甜度、吸湿性、防止结晶的能力、风味包封和涂层能力，碳水化合物在食品产品中非常有用。由于碳水化合物在药物持续释放、药物靶向、免疫抗原和佐剂中的重要作用，它们在治疗开发方面具有未来的潜力。生物基包装提供了一种新兴的材料阶段，具有生物降解性和生物相容性，可替代传统的不可生物降解聚合物，作为纸张涂层的替代品。将聚羟基烷酸酯（PHA）与碳水化合物生物聚合物（如淀粉、纤维素、聚乳酸等）混合，可以降低 PHA 的不理想性质，如结晶度和脆性，并增强 PHA 的性质，同时降低制造成本。基于碳水化合物的生物聚合物纳米颗粒是提高农业产量的可行且经济有效的方法，这对于不断增长的全球人口至关重要。利用源自碳水化合物的生物聚合物纳米颗粒是提高农业收成质量和数量的一种潜在且经济可行的方法，考虑到不断发展的全球人口，这一点至关重要。碳水化合物生物聚合物可以通过抑制孢子萌发和菌丝生长来保护植物免受病原真菌的侵害，还可以作为有效的诱导剂，激活植物免疫系统以应对病原体。此外，它们可以用作农用化学品或其他活性成分的控释制剂的载体，为传统杀菌剂提供了一种替代方法。预计本综述将对碳水化合物在食品、制药和环境领域的应用提供广泛的总结。
