Neurodegenerative disorders present significant therapeutic challenges, particularly due to the complex nature of drug delivery to the central nervous system. This review investigates the applications of various biopolymers in neuroprotection and their potential role in treating neurodegeneration. We present a critical analysis of natural and synthetic biopolymers, focusing primarily on chitosan, fish collagen/gelatin, and alginate as key therapeutic agents. The review examines the fundamental mechanisms of brain development and neurodegeneration, establishing a framework for understanding how these biopolymers interact with neural tissues. By analyzing recent experimental studies, we evaluate the effectiveness of different biopolymer-based delivery systems in crossing the blood–brain barrier and their subsequent neuroprotective effects. Additionally, promising materials, including lignin, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid, and glucose-modified bovine serum albumin/procyanidin complexes, are briefly explored to provide a comprehensive overview of current developments in the field. Our analysis reveals that biopolymer-based approaches offer unique advantages in both neuroprotection and drug delivery, potentially opening new avenues for treating neurodegenerative conditions. This review synthesizes current knowledge and identifies promising directions for future research in biopolymer-based therapeutic strategies.

Hydrogels are hydrophilic, soft polymer networks with high water content and mechanical properties that are tunable; they are also biocompatible. Therefore, as biomaterials, they are of interest to modern medicine. In this review, the main applications of hydrogels in essential clinical applications are discussed. Chemical, physical, or hybrid crosslinking of either synthetic or natural polymers allow for the precise control of hydrogels’ physicochemical properties and their specific characteristics for certain applications, such as stimuli-responsiveness, drug retention and release, and biodegradability. Hydrogels are employed in gynecology to regenerate the endometrium, treat infections, and prevent pregnancy. They show promise in cardiology in myocardial infarction therapy through injectable scaffolds, patches in the heart, and medication delivery. In rheumatoid arthritis, hydrogels act as drug delivery systems, lubricants, scaffolds, and immunomodulators, ensuring effective local treatment. They are being developed, among other applications, as antimicrobial coatings for stents and radiotherapy barriers for urology. Ophthalmology benefits from the use of hydrogels in contact lenses, corneal bandages, and vitreous implants. They are used as materials for chemoembolization, tumor models, and drug delivery devices in cancer therapy, with wafers of Gliadel presently used in clinics. Applications in abdominal surgery include hydrogel-coated meshes for hernia repair or Janus-type hydrogels to prevent adhesions and aid tissue repair. Results from clinical and preclinical studies illustrate hydrogels’ diversity, though problems remain with mechanical stability, long-term safety, and mass production. Hydrogels are, in general, next-generation biomaterials for regenerative medicine, individualized treatment, and new treatment protocols.

Despite chitosan’s proven biocidal potential, there is a lack of consensus regarding the influence of its key physicochemical parameters, degree of deacetylation (DD) and molecular weight (MW), on its antimicrobial efficacy. The aim of this study was to quantitatively synthesize available literature data and provide an exploratory statistical analysis of the trends regarding the influence of chitosan DD and MW on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). A PRISMA-guided literature review (2016–2026) across four major databases extracted 127 independent in vitro experiments, Gram-positive/negative bacteria and fungi. Physicochemical correlations were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Insoluble polymer fractions (here set as DD < 60%) critically interfere with MIC determination due to restricted diffusion and were strictly excluded from analyses. For the optimized group of soluble chitosans (n = 106, R² = 0.36), DD was the dominant factor determining biocidal activity (p < 0.0001)—every 1% increase in DD reduces the logMIC by an average of 0.040. In contrast, molecular weight did not emerge as a statistically significant predictor within this model (p = 0.156), suggesting that the degree of deacetylation remains the primary driver of antimicrobial efficacy among soluble chitosans. In summary, maximizing chitosan antimicrobial activity requires high DD polymers, and rigorous standardization (excluding insoluble fractions) is essential for the proper design of new biomaterials.

Despite chitosan proven biocidal potential, there is a lack of consensus regarding the influence of its key physicochemical parameters, degree of deacetylation (DD) and molecular weight (MW), on its antimicrobial efficacy. The aim of this study was to quantitatively synthesize available literature data and statistically model the influence of chitosan DD and MW on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). A PRIS-MA-guided literature review (2016–2026) across four major databases extracted 127 independent in vitro experiments, Gram-positive/negative bacteria and fungi. Physi-cochemical correlations were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Insoluble polymer fractions (here set as DD < 60%) critically interfere with MIC determination due to restricted diffusion and were strictly excluded from analyses. For the optimized group of soluble chitosans (N=108, R²=0.36), DD was the dominant factor determining biocidal activity (p < 0.0001) – every 1% increase in DD reduces the logMIC by an average of 0.040. Contrary to some literature assumptions, a statistically significant (p = 0.029) negative directional coefficient for MW (-0.00038) demonstrated that a higher MW further enhances the biocidal effect. In summary, maximizing chitosan antimicrobial activity requires high DD polymers, and rigorous standardization (excluding insoluble fractions) is essential for the proper design of new biomaterials.

Cichorium intybus L. (common chicory) is a medicinal plant valued for health-promoting effects. Although analgesic properties are known for chicory sesquiterpenes, the effects of extracts need yet to be explored. This study aimed to evaluate for the first time the analgesic effect (against nociceptive pain) of the root extract from C. intybus var. foliosum. The target evaluation was preceded by toxicity tests in vivo and phytochemical standardization of root extracts prepared with different extraction methods—pectinase-assisted, pressure-assisted, and a combination of both—to choose the most effective one. The phytochemical profiling involved UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS and UHPLC-PDA analyses. The toxicity and the analgesic effects were tested in mice following the OECD 423 guideline and the hot-plate test, respectively. The highest recovery of bioactive compounds was achieved for the pressure-assisted extract: 642.5 mg sesquiterpene lactones, 187.1 mg phenolic acids, and 47.3 g inulin/100 g of dry matter. The extract showed no toxic effects at the oral dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight, including no histopathologic changes, in mice within two weeks (GHS Category 5/Uncategorized). The maximum analgesic effect (MAE) of the extract at 600 mg/kg was 6.75% for rearing and 13.7% for jumping, with the impact on the nocifensive reactions not differing significantly from those of paracetamol at 60 mg/kg. Despite the relatively low effects at 600 mg/kg, the verified safety and abundance of active compounds encourage further studies on the extract and its active fractions as potential approaches to complementary pain therapy, with special concern for their mechanisms of action.

Bacterial biofilm on implants may cause inflammation, which disturbs the process of the implant’s integration with the surrounding tissues. Such problems are becoming critical for patients’ health, especially in connection with the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Among the existing alternatives for drug treatments are natural-based substances. This study focused on the examination of silica coatings with curcumin and thymol, which were deposited using the sol-gel method on 3D printouts made of Ti6Al4V ELI. This substrate material is commonly used in medicine. The selective laser melting technique used for the manufacturing of samples was in line with the existing procedures applied for individual orthopedic implants. The examination involved the assessment of the coatings’ morphology, chemical composition, and biological effect. The antibacterial properties were tested using a flow cytometer using Escherichia coli, and the cytotoxicity on Saos-2 cells was assessed using the LIVE/DEAD test. The obtained results showed that it is possible to produce silica sol-gel coatings with the addition of specific natural substances in concentrations assuring a bacteriostatic effect. The produced coatings did not show any cytotoxic effect, which confirms the possibility of using both curcumin and thymol as additives to coatings used in medicine, e.g., for orthopedic implants.