Polymer and Organic Materials Commons^™

Biopolymeric Mucin And Synthetic Polymer Analogs: Their Structure, Function And Role In Biomedical Applications, Sundar Prasanth Authimoolam, Thomas D. Dziubla

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Mucin networks are viscoelastic fibrillar aggregates formed through the complex self-association of biopolymeric glycoprotein chains. The networks form a lubricious, hydrated protective shield along epithelial regions within the human body. The critical role played by mucin networks in impacting the transport properties of biofunctional molecules (e.g., biogenic molecules, probes, nanoparticles), and its effect on bioavailability are well described in the literature. An alternate perspective is provided in this paper, presenting mucin’s complex network structure, and its interdependent functional characteristics in human physiology. We highlight the recent advances that were achieved through the use of mucin in diverse areas of bioengineering …