Application of naturalβ-glucans as biocompatible functional nanomaterials

Naturally-occurring β-glucans are mostly investigated for their antitumor activity and immunomodulatory property. They have been widely regarded as a natural source for functional foods and pharmaceuticals. However, the physico-chemically stable and biocompatible properties of β-glucans are rarely explored as a coating material for nanomaterials to overcome the problems of aggregation and cytotoxicity. This article reviews on the exploration of β-glucans, in particular those derived from mushrooms, as a natural coating material to modify the surface properties of bioactive substances as a relatively simple and cost-effective strategy to produce stable and biocompatible nanohybrids used for biopharmaceutical use. It is envisaged that such β-glucan-based coating method will provide new opportunities to design biocompatible functional nanomaterials for wider clinical applications.