**7. Conclusion**

*Pectins - Extraction, Purification, Characterization and Applications*

target Gal3 that could inhibit the metastatic successfully [87, 90].

The treatment of any genetic disorder is called gene therapy as it deals with the defected genes that are responsible for the disorder; these are treated by replacing the defective gene, silencing the unwanted gene expression or by substituting missing genes and these are carried out with the help of viral or non-viral vectors [36]. The use of non-viral vectors is preferred over viral due many reasons like biocompatibility, minimal toxicity and immunogenic reactions of our body [71]. These non-viral vectors are made of polymers of polycationic, chitosan or even pectin. It has been observed that the use of carbohydrate mediated products have better binding capacity, to facilitate the uptake by target cell [91–93]. Pectins were found to be suitable as a coating substance for b-PEI [94, 95]. Opanasopit et al. has also observed the formation of pectin nanoparticle which in turn helps to entrap the DNA for transfection [96]. Katav et al., modified pectin with the help of three different amine groups and these complexes were able to bind with plasmid DNA and there efficiency to transfect or their potential as a non-viral gene delivery carrier was compared and suggested that modified pectin has a promising role in gene delivery [71]. Similar type of study was conducted by Opanaopit et al., where pectin ability as a nanoparticle for gene delivery were studied and the study suggested the potential use of pectin as delivery vector to be safe [96]. Pectin has also been used as wound dressing material in the form of pectin-chitosan based nanoparticles. It has the ability to create an acidic environment in which the bacteria cannot grow. Burapapadh et al. developed a pectin based nanoparticle to improve and enhance the drug dissolution of ITZ (Itraconazole) [97].

Scaffolds are 3-D biomaterials that are porous in nature and are designed to be applied in various fields, few of its basic functions are to promote cell adhesion, to allow enough nutrients and gases transportation and mainly for tissue engineering [32]. Tissue engineering mainly involves the use of biocompatible scaffolds materials to act as a support matrix or to be used as a substrate for delivery of some compounds. There has been a great research going on to promote tissue reconstructions. Coimbra et al., prepared pectin based scaffolds to be used for bone tissue engineering [98]. Similar study was performed by Munarin et al., who examined the use of pectin as injectable biomaterial for bone tissue engineering [99]. Ninan et al. were also able to fabricate biopolymer scaffold of pectin and other compounds using the technique of lyophilisation, thus suggested the use of pectin as ideal

polymeric matrix for tissue engineering [73, 100, 101].

*6.2.3 As gene delivery and nanoparticles*

*6.2.4 Pectin-based scaffolds*

use of LM pectin for nasal drug delivery due to its mucoadhesive property they have a tendency to bind to the mucin with the help of hydrogen bond [82]. Its use in the production of fentanyl (painkiller) has also been seen that help in treating cancer pain which needs rapid drug release [83, 84]. An alternative for smoking cessation are the nasal pectin containing nicotine [85]. As pectin have resistance towards proteases and amylases it has been highly preferred as an encapsulating nanoparticle for drug delivery as most of the proteins are easily degraded by our digestive enzymes and thus to protect these drugs the use of pectin as an outer cover that cannot be degraded in the gastrointestinal tract are preferred for colon and oral drugs [86]. Studies have shown that pectin is able to inhibit cancer metastasis and primary tumour growth in many animal related cancer [87, 88]. Gal-3 is one of the important factors controlling cancer progression and metastasis, and pectin has the ability to recognise these Gal3 components [89]. In a study, citrus pectin was used to

**54**

Pectin is one of the most extensively studied natural biodegradable polymer. In spite of its availability in a large number of plant species, commercial sources of pectin are very limited. There is, therefore, a need to explore other sources of pectin or modify the existing sources to obtain pectin of desired quality attributes. Current knowledge of the molecular basis of pectin has helped us to understand some aspects of this complex polysaccharide. Extensive studies must be carried out to find out more about the biological pathways to devise various efficient means of pectin extraction that are scalable and can be commercialized. The large variety of applications as well as the increasing number of studies on pectin suggests that the potential of pectin as novel and versatile biomaterial will be even more significant in the future. As the research and development continues in pectin-based products, we expect to see many innovative and exciting applications.
