Recent advances in biomedical applications of cholic acid-based macromolecules.

Abstract

In recent decades, polymeric materials have been extensively investigated for their widespread therapeutic applications in various biomedical fields. In particular, biomolecule conjugated polymers continue to draw attention due to their distinctive physicochemical and biological properties. By appending biomolecules on polymeric constructs, these synthetic macromolecules can be strategized as multimotive theranostic agents. In this Review, we intend to spotlight the biomedical applications of polymeric materials containing cholic acid (CA) as the biomolecular counterpart. CA is the most abundantly produced bile acid during cholesterol metabolism in the human body and is also the least expensive one. The fascinating properties such as inimitable facial amphiphilicity, convenient bioavailability, trivial cytotoxicity, and excellent biocompatibility make CA unique to design numerous cholic acid-based polymers (CAPs) in the diverse areas of biomedical research. The primary focus of this Review is to highlight the recent achievements (2011–present) on the obligatory role of the CA moiety in CAPs in these biomedical applications. Especially the therapeutic applications which include drug delivery, gene transfection, antimicrobial activity, bioimaging and diagnosis, wound healing, and other miscellaneous bioapplications are highlighted in this Review.