Bioderived Materials: Harnessing Nature for Advanced Biochemical Handiwork

Bioorganic chemistry, an interdisciplinary scientific branch of chemistry and biology, has grabbed considerable impetus in the last few decades, owing to its important insights into the functioning of biological systems at the molecular level. Primarily it is a discipline of science that involves the study of biological processes mainly proteins and peptides at transcriptional, translational, or posttranslational levels. Yet, at the molecular level, our basic knowledge and understanding of the structureactivity relationship (SAR) of peptides/proteins remain in their infancy. Indeed, the dissection of multidomain proteins into small and simpler fragments, shed light on the design of scaffolds that seems to mimic the function of natural proteins in an efficient way, thereby giving rise to the birth of PEPTIDOMIMETICS. At times, the mimetics of critical functional protein domains, are advantageous over normal proteins/peptides in terms of specificity and therapeutic benefits. Henceforth the latter are considered to be expensive models for the investigation of molecular recognition. In this book chapter, our effort lies in modulating the basics of principles of peptide chemistry, challenges encountered, and some very efficient examples of how Peptidomimetics serves as a road map to resolve various stumbling blocks for PROTEOLYSIS and others. 

Biomimetic clusters dubbed inorganic complexes are the foci of many enzymes that are frequently earmarked for biochemical pathways. Specifically, the biomimetic clusters are made up of transition metal(s) chelated with organic ligands. This book chapter details redox active enzymes for the most fundamental biochemical processes. Bio-inorganic chemists have been synthesizing numerous biomimetic clusters that have the ability not only to mimic the active site structural features but also to mimic their functions. In a similar vein, the fixation of nitrogen into ammonia is akin to the fundamental biological process and thus can be considered a biomimetic biological process. Therefore, novel materials, including electrides, nitrides, hydrides, and basic oxides, have created a niche in facilitating biochemical reaction products. Insights into biomimetic clusters, especially inorganic catalysts’ mimics, new materials facilitating biological chemistries, and their mechanisms will uncover new avenues for small molecule activation, with different catalytic mechanisms yet to be elucidated.

Low molecular weight hydrogelators (LMOHGs) are extremely promising synthons, in the bottom-up fabrication of supramolecular soft materials. In recent years, significant contributions to Peptide-based hydrogels coined as Bioinspired fragments have been made. In this book chapter, our effort lies to module two different aspects: Firstly the underlying guidelines and principles for the tailoring of scaffolds that would lead to hydrogel formation and an overview of the role of non-covalent interactions/chemical functionalization that are the key components of various selfassembly processes. In the second section, we aim to bring together our recent achievements with designer assembly with respect to their self-aggregation behavior and applications mainly in the biomedical arena like drug delivery carrier design, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory as well as wound healing properties. We anticipate that this article would provide a conceptual demonstration of the different approaches taken toward the construction of these task-specific designer hydrogels.

In-depth analysis of human diseases, specifically emergent noncommunicable ones, needs to be carried out to understand the molecular mechanism and develop sustainable therapeutics. Animals such as small rodents and canines are frequently used as models for clinical trials. However, recent evidence suggests the inappropriateness of such in vivo models for human diseases. A new class of humanrelevant platforms needs to be established to resolve the issues surrounding the failure of potential drug candidates over the last decades. The development of human-relevant in vitro models must abide by the 3R’s principles for biomedical research. Modeling diseased tissue requires appropriate matrices such as scaffold, hydrogel, electrospinning mats, and others to mimic the strength and mechanics of the tissue in question. Biodegradable biomaterials from natural sources such as plants and animals are already used widely for tissue engineering, and regenerative medicines can be repurposed to develop a human-relevant disease model. Here we will discuss the current status of such in vitro models for a few highly fatal non-communicable diseases like cardiomyopathy, cancer, neuropathy, and others.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been attracting attention for its utilities in a variety of applications. Its nanofibrous nature offers a high surface area for the formulation of composites through physical, chemical, or biological methods. BC composites have been formed by combining with a wide range of molecules to impart additional functions. This chapter summarizes the additives and techniques to modify BC to form nanocomposites for applications in different industrial sectors. The chapter starts with an overview of BC’s unique properties that are essential for composite design. The types of additives or reinforcement agents utilized to form composites are discussed, followed by techniques employed to formulate the composites. The last section showcases the applications of BC and BC composites in the areas of pharmaceuticals, food, diagnostics, cosmetics and as a general matrix.

Cellular membranes are known to participate in several biological functions in addition to providing cellular integrity. Interestingly, in a small nanometric thickness, they offer a range of polarity, viscosity, and heterogeneity in addition to their lateral organizational diversity, which makes biological membranes a unique medium to carry out several cellular reactions. In this chapter, we have discussed the membrane architecture, physical properties, and its contribution to several biological functions.

Drug delivery systems are cargos delivering drugs to desired cells, tissues, organs and sub-cellular organelles for better drug release and absorption. These were introduced to improve the pharmacological activities of therapeutic drugs, and overcome problems like low bioavailability, lack of selectivity, drug aggregation, poor biodistribution, limited solubility, and reduced side effects associated with therapeutic drugs. Novel drug delivery systems have contributed immensely towards improving the lifestyle of patients suffering from varied pathological conditions, but drug resistance developed during the treatment becomes a major concern, fueling the need to find an alternative effective transport system. Numerous advancements have led to the development of active carriers for more targeted action along with improved pharmacokinetic behavior. Microbe-based drug delivery systems are one such system providing non-toxic, safe, site-specific targeted actions with minimal side effects. For the development of highly effective delivery carriers, microorganisms’ properties like self-propulsion, in-situ production of therapeutics, increased immunity, tumour cells’ penetration, etc, play an important role. The microbe-based drug–delivery systems can be classified into- bacterial, fungi, viral and algae-based drug-delivery systems. Intratumor injection, nasal administration and oral administration are preferred routes of administration for such delivery systems depending upon the drug’s nature, administration ease, and intended location. Bacteria, anticancer oncolytic viruses, viral immunotherapy and viral vectors are engaging areas of biotechnological research. The microbe-based drug delivery system with reduced toxicity and side effects will surely serve as a futuristic advanced carrier to improve patient’s health. The chapter provides a general overview of the novel approach of microbe-based drug delivery and its applications.