Biopolymers containing bile acid derivatives: Recent advances, material comparisons, and application prospects

Bile acid derivatives are emerging as valuable functional groups for designing novel biopolymer-based materials due to their unique amphiphilic, rigid, and biologically relevant structures. These moieties have demonstrated promising effects when incorporated into biopolymers, enhancing mechanical, physicochemical, and bioresponsive characteristics. This review critically analyzes recent advances in the integration of bile acid derivatives into biopolymers, contrasting their structural and functional attributes with conventional materials. Applications in biomedicine, drug delivery, antimicrobial systems, tissue engineering, and green packaging are systematically explored. Emphasis is also placed on emerging synthetic strategies, especially sustainable and metal-free modifications, including biocatalysis, continuous-flow chemistry, and renewable monomer sourcing, which align with green chemistry and circular bioeconomy principles. Finally, we discuss current challenges and prospective directions for advancing this field.