CONTEXT

Biomaterial  engineering has undergone an important development during the last fifteen years due to the emergence of new applications in drug delivery and tissue regeneration. These materials have evolved progressively from being bioinert, to biodegradable and now also bioactive.

Among polymers which can be used to design such materials, natural polysaccharides appear as promising candidates. They generally exhibit  good biocompatibility and biodegradability features and can additionally present biological properties. Moreover, their chemical complexity offers several possibilities in terms of structures and properties and their natural origin makes them attractive in an environmental, toxicologic and commercial point of view.

Therefore, it is particularly desirable to obtain new natural modified polymers, such as modified polysaccharides, in order to obtain components with new or improved properties like thickening or gelling ones, which can be used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical or biomedical domains.