{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,7]],"date-time":"2026-03-07T02:26:15Z","timestamp":1772850375278,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,29]],"date-time":"2024-09-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1727568000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>A novel class of pH-responsive polymers, acetalated dextran, has emerged in the field of biomaterials. These versatile materials are derived from dextran through a simple acetalation reaction, allowing for the creation of polymers with a tunable release profile which allows the controlled release of encapsulated therapeutics in response to acidic environments. Despite their recent introduction, acetalated dextran has rapidly garnered significant interest due to its potential for various therapeutic applications. This review delves specifically into the recent advancements of ethoxy acetalated dextran or Ace-DEX, a particular acetalated dextran with a distinct advantage: its degradation products (acetone and ethanol) are less toxic compared to other variants that produce methanol. The focus of this review is the diverse range of biomedical applications currently being explored for Ace-DEX-based scaffolds. Finally, this review concludes by addressing the existing challenges associated with Ace-DEX and outlining potential future research directions within this promising field.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym16192756","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,30]],"date-time":"2024-09-30T04:57:28Z","timestamp":1727672248000},"page":"2756","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Ethoxy Acetalated Dextran-Based Biomaterials for Therapeutic Applications"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Branden Joshua","family":"Damus","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nzube Ruth","family":"Amaeze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1085-8751","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eunsoo","family":"Yoo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical, Biological, & Bioengineering, North Caroline Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4227-2306","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gagandeep","family":"Kaur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10494","DOI":"10.1021\/ja803947s","article-title":"Acetal-derivatized dextran: An acid-responsive biodegradable material for therapeutic applications","volume":"130","author":"Bachelder","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. 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