Tragacanth powder

Natural polymers have many uses, and Tragacanth gum is just one of them. Many people are interested in natural gums because of their many attractive characteristics, such as being ‘green’ bio-based renewable materials, being easily accessible, inexpensive, and structurally diverse. One class of naturally occurring polysaccharides is called gum because of its tendency to create a gel or a thick solution. Among the many plant-based raw materials, these polysaccharide gums are abundant. Hydrogels, which are three-dimensional polymeric webs that can imitate live tissues, have demonstrated remarkable potential as adjustable biomaterials in numerous regenerative techniques due to their high water or biological exudate absorption capacities. Natural polysaccharides, often known as gums, are present in many different types of trees and possess many desirable properties, such as being renewable, biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, and amenable to chemical modification. Many people are curious about certain parts of the food, water, energy, biotech, environmental, and healthcare sectors as of now. Gum, a type of very important and unique food ingredient, has many vital uses in the food business. Cosmetics, coating, photosensitive resin, fertilizer, casting, pharmaceuticals, and tobacco are just a few of the non-food businesses that make use of their strong water-affinity and structural plasticity. There are a lot of benefits to hydrogels made from natural gums as opposed to those made from synthetic sources. Synthesis hydrogel polymers have been the center of interest among these non-food applications because of their extensive use in the pharmaceutical and medical fields. The Tragacanth gum hydrogels used for medication delivery and tissue engineering have been the focus of this study. We also paid close attention to drug delivery, physical-chemical properties, and the extraction of Tragacanth gum. Our research has a wide range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering for bone, skin, fixation of bone, periodontal, and cartilage. Possible futures based on hydrogels made of Tragacanth gum were likewise our primary focus.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Hybrid structures made of natural-synthetic polymers have been interested due to high biological features combining promising physical-mechanical properties. In this research, a hybrid dressing consisting of a silk fibroin (SF)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers and sodium alginate (SA)/gum tragacanth (GT) hydrogel incorporating cardamom extract as an antibacterial agent was prepared. Accordingly, SF was extracted from cocoons followed by electrospinning in blend form with PVA (SF/PVA ratio: 1:1) under the voltage of 18 kV and the distances of 15 cm. The SEM images confirmed the formation of uniform, bead free fibers with the average diameter of 199 ± 28 nm. FTIR and XRD results revealed the successful extraction of SF and preparation of mixed fibrous mats. Next, cardamom oil extract-loaded SA/GT hydrogel was prepared and the nanofibrous structure was placed on the surface of hydrogel. SEM analysis depicted the uniform morphology of hybrid structure with desirable matching between two layers. TGA analysis showed desired thermal stability. The swelling ratio was found to be 1251% after 24 h for the hybrid structure and the drug was released without any initial burst. MTT assay and cell attachment results showed favorable biocompatibility and cell proliferation on samples containing extract, and antibacterial activity values of 85.35% against S. aureus and 75% against E. coli were obtained as well. The results showed that the engineered hybrid nanofibrous-hydrogel film structure incorporating cardamom oil extract could be a promising candidate for wound healing applications and skin tissue engineering.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Bioactive films based on sodium carboxymethyl tragacanth gum (CMT) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) enriched with clove extract (CE) for potential wound healing applications were fabricated by the solution casting method. The fabricated films were characterized by FTIR, XRD, EDX, SEM, and TGA analyses. The XRD pattern of CMT/PVA/CE5% showed an amorphous structure with broad peaks, suggesting that the presence of CE led to a reduction in crystallinity and an increase in amorphousness in the polymer film. The fabricated films showed a high water absorption capacity and swelled up to 80% over 24 hours for the CMT/PVA/CE5% formulation crosslinked with 15% citric acid. Excellent biodegradability with 88% was observed in soil over 40 days for CMT/PVA/CE5%. The presence of CE in CMT/PVA improved the antioxidant activity by up to 92% within 30 minutes. Strong antibacterial effects of CMT/PVA/CE5% film were observed against Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus, with inhibition zone diameters of 20 mm and 18 mm, respectively. Across concentrations from 25-600 μg/mL, CMT/PVA/CE5% films displayed over 80% cell viability on cultured human dermal fibroblasts after 48 hours. The results indicated that CMT/PVA/CE5% bioactive film can be employed as effective, non-toxic wound dressings with infection prevention and healing promotion capabilities.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

This study investigates a novel all-polysaccharide hydrogel composed of tragacanth gum (TG) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), eliminating the need for toxic crosslinkers. Designed for potential tissue engineering applications, these hydrogels were fabricated using 3D printing and freeze-drying techniques to create scaffolds with interconnected macropores, facilitating nutrient transport. SEM images revealed that the hydrogels contained macropores with a diameter of 100–115 μm. Notably, increasing the CNC content within the TG matrix (30–50 %) resulted in a decrease in porosity from 83 % to 76 %, attributed to enhanced polymer-nanocrystal interactions that produced denser networks. Despite the reduced porosity, the hydrogels demonstrated high swelling ratios (890–1090 %) due to the high water binding capacity of the hydrogel. Mechanical testing showed that higher CNC concentrations significantly improved compressive strength (27.7–49.5 kPa) and toughness (362–707 kJ/m 3 ), highlighting the enhanced mechanical properties of the hydrogels. Thermal analysis confirmed stability up to 400 °C and verified ionic crosslinking with CaCl₂. Additionally, hemolysis tests indicated minimal hemolytic activity, affirming the biocompatibility of the TG/CNC hydrogels. These findings highlight the potential of these hydrogels as advanced materials for 3D-printed scaffolds and injectable hydrogels, offering customizable porosity, superior mechanical strength, thermal stability, and biocompatibility. • Developed all-polysaccharide hydrogel using TG and CNCs, avoiding toxic crosslinkers. • 3D printed and freeze-dried hydrogels created porous scaffolds with interconnected pores. • CNCs reinforcement improves network density, rigidity, and control over porosity and swelling. • Hydrogels show low hemolytic activity, highlighting potential for tissue engineering applications. • Versatile application potential, including injectable hydrogels and 3D-printed scaffolds.

Abstract licence: CC BY