Читать книгу Polysaccharides - Группа авторов - Страница 83

A broad variety of species are found in the aquatic world, with its abundance of ecosystems. They also produced variations in the basic biomolecules to match their needs and tackle their climate. Among them, polysaccharides are among the most studied and, being essential for the survival and functioning of cells, have the largest diversity; they perform an array of functions ranging from storage to preserving heredity. Additionally, these polysaccharides also have certain useful properties that could be exploited commercially. The two main candidates for research have been cellulose and chitosan. Cellulose, a linear polysaccharide of glucose, has been utilized for tissue repair, biocomposite for wound healing, purification of blood, controlled DNA and drug delivery, gelling agent in food and for blood purification. Chitosan, a cellulose lookalike, has been used for tissue architecture and has multiple applications in food and pharmaceutical industries for its emulsification, anti-oxidant, anti-coagulant, hepatoprotective, and anti-microbial activities. Encapsulation properties of chitosan have been utilized for enzyme entrapment for developing analyte sensors while its adsorbing capabilities have been used for water treatment. Chitosan treatment has been reported to improve resistance of crop plats against pathogens. Alginates have found their major applications in food industry as a food coating agent and emulsion stabilizer, in vivo delivery of peptides and cells, anti-oxidant and bactericidal activities. A niche application also uses its Pb²⁺ chelating ability to develop special formulations. Alginates are also effective anti-hyperglycemic dietary supplements and promote tissue healing. Carrageenan shows several immunological activities; and the carrageenan gels have shown selective inhibition against many enveloped viruses including HIV, cytomegalovirus and HSV. They are also used for controlled drug delivery through nanoparticle formulations. Its thixotropic properties allow sophisticated foods to be produced quickly. Due to its indigestibility, agar is utilized as a binding agent and in special diet foods; these industries of produce consume 90% of the agar worldwide. Other seaweed polysaccharides such as fucoidans and porphyrans also show similar activities and are consequently, used majorly in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry. Marine polysaccharides constitute a dynamic field, with its derivatizations and structural variations, and concentrated research efforts would be able to better harness the immense biotechnological and commercial potential of these biopolymers.