Characterization of Transcriptional Alterations Leading to Aberrant Myeloid Differentiation in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

This review chapter discusses the applications of natural compounds in different areas of life, where they cross-link to find solutions to countless problems in our daily lives. For instance, there is an increasing trend in the food industry of using plant extracts rich in bioactive compounds as an alternative to synthetic antimicrobials and antioxidants to inhibit lipid oxidation and ensure the durability of food products during storage. Most of these bioactive compounds have low water solubility, significantly reducing their use. However, in the literature, there is extensive use of liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, and nanoemulsions encapsulating natural products to make them more soluble and applicable. Since low water solubility prevents the direct use of many promising bioactive substances. Therefore, these natural compounds are used to obtain nanoparticles applicable in the medical field, mainly because they can overcome shortcomings related to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. This chapter primarily focuses on the functionalization of natural polysaccharides applied in formulations of pharmaceutical and food industries. Important aspects of the mechanisms that specifically involve the chemical modification of polysaccharides, which are obtained mainly from cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale L.), karaya (Sterculia urens), and chicha (Sterculia striata) through acylation and amination reactions are highlighted. This chapter further emphasizes the importance of unmodified polysaccharides for obtaining nanoparticles used in the delivery and release of bioactive molecules and also the importance of encapsulating natural products for their applicability in human health care and food production.