IMMOBILIZATION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN XANTHAN-BASED HYDROGELS: MECHANISMS, PRACTICAL APPROACHES AND CONCEPTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE MATERIALS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15421/jchemtech.v34i1.355044Keywords:
xanthan gum; hydrogels; immobilization; ionic interactions; coordination interactions; bioactive compounds; innovative materials.Abstract
The paper summarizes current approaches to the development of xanthan (XG)-oriented immobilization systems that ensure effective retention of bioactive compounds and heavy metal ions as bioactive toxicants. For the first time, the features of the formation of “xanthan–(modifier)–immobilization object” systems are considered. It is established that non-covalent interactions play a key role in the stabilization of immobilized objects. It is shown that the carboxyl, pyruvate, acetyl, and hydroxyl groups of xanthan provide effective interaction with cations of both biogenic and toxic metals, as well as with protonated functional groups of bioactive (including pharmaceuticals) and toxic (including dyes) compounds, ensuring their reliable retention within a three-dimensional hydrogel matrix. Such a structure creates prerequisites for controlled release and targeted delivery of bioactive substances, as well as for the binding and subsequent biodegradation of toxicants. The paper presents a classification of immobilization types based on retention mechanisms. The key role of ion-exchange immobilization in forming a porous polymer network capable of physically retaining additionally introduced molecules bioactive molecules is highlighted. The prospects for the application of such systems in pharmaceutical technologies and environmental processes are analyzed. Special attention is paid to composite materials with magnetic nanoparticles, which enable controlled transport and recovery of immobilized components. Previously, we established the absence of a unified protocol for quantum chemical modeling (QCM) as a tool for predicting interactions in “xanthan (modifier)–immobilization object” systems. Therefore, this study substantiates the feasibility of applying QCM methods, in particular for determining stable conformations and identifying active binding sites. It is shown that the lack of such studies limits the systematization of results, necessitating the development of standardized approaches based on simplified structural fragments. The proposed approaches provide a theoretical framework for the targeted design of innovative functional materials.
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