ABSTRACT
The unique and unrivaled physical properties make the microbial exopolysaccharides auspicious substitutes for plant polysaccharides. For every repeating unit, pullulan has nine hydroxyl groups; it tends to be derivatized in different structures by substituting these hydroxyl groups to upgrade its utility in biomedical applications. Conjugation of carboxymethyl pullulan with heparin leads to examination of its characteristics toward tissue-engineering applications. Hydrogels have received considerable attention as wound dressings due to their physical properties comparable to natural soft tissues and the ability to absorb considerable amount of aqueous liquids. The natural pullulan-based hydrogels have outstanding properties of wound dressing and may be guaranteed in clinical applications. Hydrophobically modified pullulan derivative nanoparticles are useful in drug-delivery applications. The adhesive nature of pullulan is helpful in wound-dressing applications. In conclusion, it seems that pullulan should be explored toward different applications so that its unique properties can be tapped to its maximum potential..
