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Numerous compounds present in the ocean are contributing to the development of the biomedical field. Agarose, a polysaccharide derived from marine red algae, plays a vital role in biomedical applications because of its reversible temperature-sensitive gelling behavior, excellent mechanical properties, and high biological activity. Natural agarose hydrogel has a single structural composition that prevents it from adapting to complex biological environments. Therefore, agarose can be developed into different forms through physical, biological, and chemical modifications, enabling it to perform optimally in different environments. Agarose biomaterials are being increasingly used for isolation, purification, drug delivery, and tissue engineering, but most are still far from clinical approval. This review classifies and discusses the preparation, modification, and biomedical applications of agarose, focusing on its applications in isolation and purification, wound dressings, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and 3D printing. In addition, it attempts to address the opportunities and challenges associated with the future development of agarose-based biomaterials in the biomedical field. It should help to rationalize the selection of the most suitable functionalized agarose hydrogels for specific applications in the biomedical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Octenyl succinic acid esterification agar (OSAR) and sodium alginate were mixed to form a composite wall material to prepare soybean oil microcapsules. The effects of the proportion of modified agar, core material amount, emulsification temperature and calcium chloride concentration on the oil loading rate of microcapsules were investigated. The effects of the composite wall materials on the embedding yield of soybean oil microcapsules, the properties and morphology of emulsion and microspheres, the in vitro digestion-release rate and the oxidation stability were also studied. The results showed that the oil loading rate of the composite wall material increased first and then decreased with the increase of the proportion of modified agar (OSAR: Alg = 0.5:1 ~ 3:1), and increased significantly and then decreased with the increase of core material content (1%~5%). The oil loading rate of the composite wall material decreased and then levelled off with the increase of emulsification temperature (40~65 °C), and remained constant first and then decreased with the increase of calcium chloride concentration (1%~5%). Compared with pure sodium alginate, the composite wall material (OSAR: Alg=1:1) increased encapsulation efficiency by 27.9%, increased emulsion stability by 56.9%, decreased surface oil content by 60%, increased embedding efficiency by 3.65%, and increased significantly the in vitro digestion-release rate and oxidation stability of the core soybean oil. The obtained microspheres were smaller in size with no holes on the surface and oil loading up to 40.5%. This research showed that octenylsuccinate esterified agar greatly improved the embedding effect of sodium alginate microcapsules, and is suitable for constructing encapsulation and delivery systems for lipophilic substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some commonly used surfactants in cosmetic products raise concerns due to their skin-irritating effects and environmental contamination. Multifunctional, high-performance polymers are good alternatives to overcome these problems. In this study, agarose stearate (AS) with emulsifying, thickening, and gel properties was synthesized. Surfactant-free cosmetic formulations were successfully prepared from AS and carbomer940 (CBM940) mixed systems. The correlation of rheological parameter with skin feeling was determined to study the usability of the mixed systems in cosmetics. Based on rheological analysis, the surfactant-free cosmetic cream (SFC) stabilized by AS-carbomer940 showed shear-thinning behavior and strongly synergistic action. The SFC exhibited a gel-like behavior and had rheological properties similar to commercial cosmetic creams. Scanning electron microscope images proved that the AS-CBM940 network played an important role in SFC's stability. Oil content could reinforce the elastic characteristics of the AS-CBM940 matrix. The SFCs showed a good appearance and sensation during and after rubbing into skin. The knowledge gained from this study may be useful for designing surfactant-free cosmetic cream with rheological properties that can be tailored for particular commercial cosmetic applications. They may also be useful for producing medicine products with highly viscous or gel-like textures, such as some ointments and wound dressings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]