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Pharmaceutical and Medical Applications of Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid

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Amino-Acid Homopolymers Occurring in Nature

Part of the book series: Microbiology Monographs ((MICROMONO,volume 15))

Abstract

Poly(amino acid)s have received considerable attention for biomedical applications. Poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA), a natural polymer, is synthesized by several gram-positive bacteria. γ-PGA is anionic, water soluble, biodegradable, edible, nontoxic, and nonimmunogenic for humans and the environment, and its α-carboxylate side chains can be chemically modified to introduce various drugs, or to modulate the amphiphilicity of the polymer. These features of γ-PGA are very useful for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. This paper reviews the preparation of polymeric drugs, nanoparticles, and hydrogels composed of γ-PGA and their medical applications as drug carriers and tissue-engineering materials. γ-PGA–drug conjugates, nanoparticles, and hydrogels fabricated from γ-PGA or its derivatives have wide application for drug delivery system and regenerative medical technique.

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  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Takami Akagi, Michiya Matsusaki & Mitsuru Akashi

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  1. Takami Akagi
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  2. Michiya Matsusaki
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  3. Mitsuru Akashi
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Correspondence to Mitsuru Akashi .

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  1. , Department of Bioscience, Fukui Prefectural University, Matsuoka-Kenjojima, Eiheiji-cho 4-1-1, Fukui, 910-1195, Japan

    Yoshimitsu Hamano

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Akagi, T., Matsusaki, M., Akashi, M. (2010). Pharmaceutical and Medical Applications of Poly-Gamma-Glutamic Acid. In: Hamano, Y. (eds) Amino-Acid Homopolymers Occurring in Nature. Microbiology Monographs, vol 15. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12453-2_7

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