Herein, we have presented a broad overview of microbial exopolysaccharide (EPS)-based nano-structures that are continuously being explored for their potential biomedical applications, e.g., cell and/or drug encapsulation, gene delivery, tissue engineering, diagnostics, and related therapeutics. The sustainable exploitation of naturally occurring EPS-based polymeric nano-carriers using state-of-the-art nanotech engineering approaches has provided an excellent alternative to conventional bioimaging and drug delivery technologies. EPS-based drug transport covers a specific niche “intelligent therapeutics” which is still being established and has not been well described in the literature. Thus, herein, an effort has been made to cover this literature gap to present unique multi-functional potentialities of microbial EPS with suitable examples. EPS-based nano-pharmaceutics exhibit certain advantages over conventional counterparts, such as ease in preparation, in vivo biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sustainability. EPS and their derivatives are successfully applied for several biomedical applications, e.g., wound dressing scaffolds, arthritis treatment, dental impressions, and tissue engineering purposes. The progress in targeted delivery systems using micro and nanosystems has opened a new dimension in biopolymer-based biomedicines and smart surgical procedures. This huge area of biomedical engineering is described by the availability of a diverse range of EPS-derivatives, whose multi-functional characteristics can be controlled. Through bioconjugation, i.e., functionalized composite production, different systems have been designed, such as controlled drug release and target accumulation of therapeutic substances. Potential EPS applications are not just limited to targeted transport but also covers several emerging diagnostic technologies. Several bioactive EPS have also been studied for their properties like anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activities. Based on currently available data on EPS-based nano-structures for biomedical domains, it can be undoubtedly stated that they present a broad future ahead.

在这里，我们已经介绍了基于微生物胞外多糖（EPS）的纳米结构的广泛概述，这些结构正在不断探索其潜在的生物医学应用，例如细胞和/或药物封装，基因递送，组织工程，诊断和相关治疗。使用最新的纳米技术工程方法对天然存在的基于EPS的聚合物纳米载体的可持续开发为传统的生物成像和药物输送技术提供了极好的替代方案。基于EPS的药物运输涵盖了特定的细分市场“智能疗法”，这一点仍在建立中，并且在文献中没有得到很好的描述。因此，在本文中，已经进行了努力以弥补该文献空白，以利用合适的实例呈现微生物EPS的独特多功能潜力。基于EPS的纳米药物相对于常规纳米药物具有某些优势，例如易于制备，体内生物相容性，生物降解性和可持续性。EPS及其衍生物已成功应用于多种生物医学应用，例如伤口敷料支架，关节炎治疗，牙科印模和组织工程学目的。使用微米和纳米系统的靶向递送系统的进步为基于生物聚合物的生物医学和智能外科手术开辟了新的领域。生物医学工程学的这一巨大领域可通过多种EPS衍生物的使用来描述，其多功能特性可以得到控制。通过生物共轭（即功能化复合材料生产），设计了不同的系统，例如控制药物的释放和治疗物质的目标积累。EPS的潜在应用不仅限于目标运输，还涵盖了几种新兴的诊断技术。还研究了几种具有生物活性的EPS的特性，例如抗病毒，抗菌，抗肿瘤和免疫调节活性。基于目前可用于生物医学领域的基于EPS的纳米结构的数据，可以毫无疑问地指出它们代表了广阔的未来。