Physical and chemical impact of nanoparticle-reinforced alginate-based biomaterials

Alginate, a wonderful polymeric constituent (superpolysaccharide) with roots ranging from natural to synthetic, has many potential deliverables. Derived from an algal component (brown algal weed), alginate is a natural polysaccharide with d-mannuronic acid (M) and l-guluronic acid (G) units and homo/heteropolymeric sequences. As a superpolysaccharide, alginate is attractive for its salient features of biodegradability, biocompatibility, renewability, and nontoxicity. During the global wave of COVID-19, alginate conquered the attention of the entire research community. In 2020, the concentration of work on this wonder polymer was high, with many research articles published for various applications. This biopolymer has varied β-1,4 glycosidic linkages, richness in hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, and significant affinity. Hence, it cross-links with polyvalent metal ions smoothly with rapidity. Therefore, it serves as a polymer for a better entrapment of nanoparticles as nanocarriers. The entrapped nanopackets in a 3D framework, such as microspheres, microcapsules, hydrogels, aerogels, dry beads, foams/fibers, and sponges, as nanobiomaterials, have versatile submissions. In the sections that follow, we discuss the potent versatilities of alginates-biomaterials as nanomaterials basically in three platforms, i.e., physical (morphological transformation during fabrication), chemical (utilities in physical-outputs and environmental remediation) and biological (biomedical applications). The inherent advantages of these nanoproducts, with cost-effectiveness, nonhazardous nature, biodegradability, and abundance, make them a better choice with good deliveries when in hand.