**4. Polymerization of Inulin**

**4. Polymerization of Inulin**  Inulin is categorized as a fructan carbohydrate, which functions as a primary ingredient in industrial food processing. Inulin hydrogels have been employed as carriers for colonic drug targeting; such processes are fundamental to prebiotic fermentation, chocolate, and cheese production [63–65], as noted in the preceding sections. From a nutritional perspective, the functional properties of inulin and health beneficial effects include prebiotic effects, high dietary fiber content, and lower calorie value [65]. The physiological benefits linked to the consumption of inulin-rich foods are presented in Table 2. In industrial food production, inulin has been employed in fat replacement as a bulking agent [65], stabilizer, and fat replacer in cheese production. The observations made by Karimi et al. [65] are in agreement with Aidoo et al. [63], who reported the incorporation of inulin in Inulin is categorized as a fructan carbohydrate, which functions as a primary ingredient in industrial food processing. Inulin hydrogels have been employed as carriers for colonic drug targeting; such processes are fundamental to prebiotic fermentation, chocolate, and cheese production [63–65], as noted in the preceding sections. From a nutritional perspective, the functional properties of inulin and health beneficial effects include prebiotic effects, high dietary fiber content, and lower calorie value [65]. The physiological benefits linked to the consumption of inulin-rich foods are presented in Table 2. In industrial food production, inulin has been employed in fat replacement as a bulking agent [65], stabilizer, and fat replacer in cheese production. The observations made by Karimi et al. [65] are in agreement with Aidoo et al. [63], who reported the incorporation of inulin in sugar-free chocolate production (inulin functions as an alternative sweetener),

sugar-free chocolate production (inulin functions as an alternative sweetener), and Guimarães et al. [64] research on inulin's role in prebiotic fermentation (especially in bev-

The potential applications of inulin are not confined to food production, given that inulin has been proven to be an ideal in vitro drug carrier of lignin derivatives. Vervoot et al. [67] noted that inulin was an ideal carrier for colonic drug targeting [67]; this is achieved through the surface functionalization of inulin with N, N, N′, N′-tetramethylethylenediamine, and ammonium persulphate [67]. Colonic drug delivery is critical to the and Guimarães et al. [64] research on inulin's role in prebiotic fermentation (especially in beverage stabilization). In other cases, inulin has been proven useful in the retro-gradation and gelatinization of wheat starch [66].

The potential applications of inulin are not confined to food production, given that inulin has been proven to be an ideal in vitro drug carrier of lignin derivatives. Vervoot et al. [67] noted that inulin was an ideal carrier for colonic drug targeting [67]; this is achieved through the surface functionalization of inulin with N, N, N0 , N0 -tetramethylethylenediamine, and ammonium persulphate [67]. Colonic drug delivery is critical to the treatment of colon cancer and metabolic/bowel complications. Similar to Vervoot et al. [67], Kumar et al. [68] noted that inulin was a suitable bioactive polymer for pathogen-mimicking vaccine delivery systems. The biomedical applications of inulin in targeted drug delivery offer promising prospects in the treatment and management of life-threatening conditions, including cancer, Ebola, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. The biomedical application of inulin is mediated by free-radical polymerization—a process that contributes to the incorporation of vinyl functional groups on the surface of inulin [67].

Beyond industrial applications, the polymerization of inulin has broader implications on the health of mammals. Wada et al. observed that the fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates in the diet by bowel microflora predicts the formation of short-chain fatty acids [69]. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate are the primary short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) derived from the digestion and fermentation of undigested carbohydrates and inulin in the human colon [70].

The formation of both short-chain and long-chain fatty acids has long-term effects on bowel physiology. The observations reflect long-standing beliefs and evidence concerning the relationship between improved health outcomes and high-fiber diets, causal epidemiological evidence, and metagenomics studies linking metabolic diseases to variations in the gut microbe and molecular signaling [71].

Even though there is growing use of inulin in biomedical and food-related industries, the extent of application depends on a broad range of factors, including the polymerization of inulin; this underscores the need for customized synthetic processes, including the reaction between N,N-dimethylformamide with glycidyl methacrylate in the presence of a catalyst (4-dimethylaminopyridine) [67]. The polymerization of inulin is integral to industrial application, primarily in the food and biomedical sectors, but there are critical technical constraints that impede successful polymerization.
