Isolation and Characterization of Low Molecular Weight Glycosaminoglycans from Marine Mollusc Amussium pleuronectus (Linne) using Chromatography

Kinetics of Calcite Nucleation onto Sulfated Chitosan Derivatives and Implications for Water-Polysaccharide Interactions during Crystallization of Sparingly Soluble Salts

Anionic macromolecules are found at sites of CaCO3 biomineralization in diverse organisms, but their roles in crystallization are not well-understood. We prepared a series of sulfated chitosan derivatives with varied positions and degrees of sulfation, DS(SO3 -), and measured calcite nucleation rate onto these materials. Fitting the classical nucleation theory model to the kinetic data reveals the interfacial free energy of the calcite-polysaccharide-solution system, γnet, is lowest for nonsulfated controls and increases with DS(SO3 -). The kinetic prefactor also increases with DS(SO3 -). Simulations of Ca2+-H2O-chitosan systems show greater water structuring around sulfate groups compared to uncharged substituents, independent of sulfate location. Ca2+-SO3 - interactions are solvent-separated by distances that are inversely correlated with DS(SO3 -) of the polysaccharide. The simulations also predict SO3 - and NH3 + groups affect the solvation waters and HCO3 - ions associated with Ca2+. Integrating the experimental and computational evidence suggests sulfate groups influence nucleation by increasing the difficulty of displacing near-surface water, thereby increasing γnet. By correlating γnet and net charge per monosaccharide for diverse polysaccharides, we suggest the solvent-separated interactions of functional groups with Ca2+ influence thermodynamic and kinetic components to crystallization by similar solvent-dominated processes. The findings reiterate the importance of establishing water structure and properties at macromolecule-solution interfaces.

Sulfated Polysaccharides with Anticoagulant Potential: A Review Focusing on Structure-Activity Relationship and Action Mechanism

Thromboembolism is the culprit of cardiovascular diseases, leading to the highest global mortality rate. Anticoagulation emerges as the primary approach for managing thrombotic conditions. Notably, sulfated polysaccharides exhibit favorable anticoagulant efficacy with reduced side effects. This review focuses on the structure-anticoagulant activity relationship of sulfated polysaccharides and the underlying action mechanisms. It is concluded that chlorosulfonicacid-pyridine method serves as the preferred technique to synthesize sulfated polysaccharides. The anticoagulant activity of sulfated polysaccharides is linked to the substitution site of sulfate groups, degree of substitution, molecular weight, main side chain structure, and glycosidic bond conformation. Moreover, sulfated polysaccharides exert anticoagulant activity via various pathways, including the inhibition of blood coagulation factors, activation of antithrombin III and heparin cofactor II, antiplatelet aggregation, and promotion of the fibrinolytic system.

Antioxidant and antiproliferative effect of a glycosaminoglycan extract from Rapana venosa marine snail

Marine glycosaminoglycans (GAG) isolated from different invertebrates, such as molluscs, starfish or jellyfish, have been described as unique molecules with important pharmacological applications. Scarce information is available on GAG extract from Rapana venosa marine snail. The aim of this study was to isolate a GAG extract from R. venosa marine snail and to investigate its physicochemical, antioxidant and antiproliferative properties for further biomedical use. The morphology, chemical and elemental composition of the extract were established as well as the sulfate content and N- to O-sulfation ratio. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated that GAG extract presented similar structural characteristics to bovine heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. The pattern of extract migration in agarose gel electrophoresis and specific digestion with chondroitinase ABC and heparinase III indicated the presence of a mixture of chondroitin sulfate-type GAG, as main component, and heparan sulfate-type GAG. Free radical scavenging and ferric ion reducing assays showed that GAG extract had high antioxidant activity, which slightly decreased after enzymatic treatment. In vitro MTT and Live/Dead assays showed that GAG extract had the ability to inhibit cell proliferation in human Hep-2 cell cultures, at cytocompatible concentrations in normal NCTC clone L929 fibroblasts. This capacity decreased after enzymatic digestion, in accordance to the antioxidant activity of the products. Tumoral cell migration was also inhibited by GAG extract and its digestion products. Overall, GAG extract from R. venosa marine snail exhibited antioxidant and antiproliferative activities, suggesting its potential use as novel bioactive compound for biomedical applications.

Marine Polysaccharides for Wound Dressings Application: An Overview

Wound dressings have become a crucial treatment for wound healing due to their convenience, low cost, and prolonged wound management. As cutting-edge biomaterials, marine polysaccharides are divided from most marine organisms. It possesses various bioactivities, which allowing them to be processed into various forms of wound dressings. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the application of marine polysaccharides in wound dressings is particularly important for the studies of wound therapy. In this review, we first introduce the wound healing process and describe the characteristics of modern commonly used dressings. Then, the properties of various marine polysaccharides and their application in wound dressing development are outlined. Finally, strategies for developing and enhancing marine polysaccharide wound dressings are described, and an outlook of these dressings is given. The diverse bioactivities of marine polysaccharides including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, haemostatic properties, etc., providing excellent wound management and accelerate wound healing. Meanwhile, these biomaterials have higher biocompatibility and biodegradability compared to synthetic ones. On the other hand, marine polysaccharides can be combined with copolymers and active substances to prepare various forms of dressings. Among them, emerging types of dressings such as nanofibers, smart hydrogels and injectable hydrogels are at the research frontier of their development. Therefore, marine polysaccharides are essential materials in wound dressings fabrication and have a promising future.

Purification and characterization of a novel mixed-linkage α,β-d-glucan from Arca subcrenata and its immunoregulatory activity

Arca subcrenata Lischke is a seafood with high nutritional value. In this study, we purified and characterized a novel water-soluble polysaccharide (ASPG-2) from Arca subcrenata with significant immunoregulatory effects and no apparent cell toxicity. ASPG-2 is a class of mixed-linkage α,β-d-glucan backbones with α-linked side chains with a molecular weight of 4.39 × 10⁵ Da. Its structure was characterized as a repeating unit consisting of (1 → 3)-β-d-Glcp, (1 → 4)-α-d-Glcp, (1 → 4,6)-α-d-Glcp and (1 → 6)-α-d-Glcp. Using mouse RAW264.7 macrophages, we demonstrated that ASPG-2 exerted marked immunoregulatory effects by promoting the secretion of NO and increasing the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells in vitro. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis of the expression of the cell surface molecule CD86 revealed that ASPG-2 could polarize RAW264.7 cells into the M1 type. The immunomodulatory mechanism of ASPG-2 in macrophages was associated with the activation of the TLR4-MAPK/Akt-NF-κB signalling pathways. These results indicated that ASPG-2 might be researched and developed as a potential immunomodulatory agent or health product from marine organisms.

Antithrombotics from the Sea: Polysaccharides and Beyond

Marine organisms exhibit some advantages as a renewable source of potential drugs, far beyond chemotherapics. Particularly, the number of marine natural products with antithrombotic activity has increased in the last few years, and reports show a wide diversity in scaffolds, beyond the polysaccharide framework. While there are several reviews highlighting the anticoagulant and antithrombotic activities of marine-derived sulfated polysaccharides, reports including other molecules are sparse. Therefore, the present paper provides an update of the recent progress in marine-derived sulfated polysaccharides and quotes other scaffolds that are being considered for investigation due to their antithrombotic effect.

Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins: Reduced Size Particulate Systems for Improved Therapeutic Outcomes

A wide range of diseases have been treated using low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs), the drug of choice for anticoagulation. Owing to their better pharmacokinetic features compared to those of unfractionated heparin (uFH), several systems incorporating LMWHs have been investigated to deliver and improve their therapeutic outcomes, especially through development of their micro- and nano-particles. This review article describes current perspectives on the fabrication, characterization, and application of LMWHs-loaded micro- and nano-particles to achieve ameliorated bioavailability. The valuable applications of LMWH will continue to encourage researchers to identify efficient delivery systems that have specific release characteristics and ameliorated bioavailability, overcoming the challenges presented by biological obstructions and the physicochemical properties of LMWHs.

Mucopolysaccharide from cuttlefish: Purification, chemical characterization and bioactive potential

The sulfated mucopolysaccharide (GAG) was isolated from S. pharonis and the carbohydrate and protein content was found to be 62.4% and 3.9%. The disaccharide profile of sulfated GAG composed glucuronic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine and sulfate content by contributing 50.11%, 38.00% and 27.69% respectively. The carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content of the sulfated GAG showed 14.80%, 1.68% and 2.99% respectively. The molecular weight of sulfated GAG was calculated as 27kDa and the structural characterization was done by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and NMR Spectroscopy. The Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) and Prothrombin Time (PT) of sulfated GAG were determined as 91 IU and 39.55 IU at 25μg/ml respectively. Further the sulfated GAG reported the cytotoxic effect (CC₅₀) of 1100μg/ml concentration on Vero cell line. The sulfated GAG reported the anticancer activity against HeLa cell line with an inhibition rate of 18.65%-66.13% at 50-250μg/ml concentration. The sulfated GAG can be considered as a potent anticoagulant and anticancer drug in future.

Isolation of low-molecular-weight heparin/heparan sulfate from marine sources

The glycosaminoglycan (heparin and heparan sulfate) are polyanionic sulfated polysaccharides mostly recognized for its anticoagulant activity. In many countries, low-molecular-weight heparins have replaced the unfractionated heparin, owing to its high bioavailability, half-life, and less adverse effect. The low-molecular-weight heparins differ in mode of preparation (chemical or enzymatic synthesis and chromatography fractionations) and as a consequence in molecular weight distribution, chemical structure, and pharmacological activities. Bovine and porcine body parts are at present used for manufacturing of commercial heparins, and the appearance of mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans has limited the use of bovine heparin. Consequently, marine organisms come across the new resource for the production of low-molecular-weight heparin and heparan sulfate. The importance of this chapter suggests that the low-molecular-weight heparin and heparan sulfate from marine species could be alternative sources for commercial heparin.

Study on the Isolation of Polysaccharide from Purple Sweet Potato by DEAE-Cellulose 52

In this thesis the chromatography on DEAE-Cellulose 52 was used to isolate the crude polysaccharide from purple sweet potato (PPSP) . To get the purest polysaccharide from the purple sweet potato for the purpose, the influence of different pH environments and whether the fractions eluted with the high and low ionic strength eluents in corresponding pH environment during the elution process had the hybrid phenomenon were studied. Finally, results suggested that the purest polysaccharide of purple sweet potato would be got in the neutral and low ionic strength solution of NaCl when the crude polysaccharide was isolated by the chromatography column on DEAE-Cellulose 52 according to this study, and in this thesis the low ionic strength solution of NaCl was 11.7g.L-1, the elution rate of polysaccharide eluted with it was about 3% and the purity was about 94%.

Marine polysaccharides: a source of bioactive molecules for cell therapy and tissue engineering

The therapeutic potential of natural bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, especially glycosaminoglycans, is now well documented, and this activity combined with natural biodiversity will allow the development of a new generation of therapeutics. Advances in our understanding of the biosynthesis, structure and function of complex glycans from mammalian origin have shown the crucial role of this class of molecules to modulate disease processes and the importance of a deeper knowledge of structure-activity relationships. Marine environment offers a tremendous biodiversity and original polysaccharides have been discovered presenting a great chemical diversity that is largely species specific. The study of the biological properties of the polysaccharides from marine eukaryotes and marine prokaryotes revealed that the polysaccharides from the marine environment could provide a valid alternative to traditional polysaccharides such as glycosaminoglycans. Marine polysaccharides present a real potential for natural product drug discovery and for the delivery of new marine derived products for therapeutic applications.

Unique extracellular matrix heparan sulfate from the bivalve Nodipecten nodosus (Linnaeus, 1758) safely inhibits arterial thrombosis after photochemically induced endothelial lesion

Heparin-like glycans with diverse disaccharide composition and high anticoagulant activity have been described in several families of marine mollusks. The present work focused on the structural characterization of a new heparan sulfate (HS)-like polymer isolated from the mollusk Nodipecten nodosus (Linnaeus, 1758) and on its anticoagulant and antithrombotic properties. Total glycans were extracted from the mollusk and fractionated by ethanol precipitation. The main component (>90%) was identified as HS-like glycosaminoglycan, representing approximately 4.6 mg g(-1) of dry tissue. The mollusk HS resists degradation with heparinase I but is cleaved by nitrous acid. Analysis of the mollusk glycan by one-dimensional (1)H, two-dimensional correlated spectroscopy, and heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance revealed characteristic signals of glucuronic acid and glucosamine residues. Signals corresponding to anomeric protons of nonsulfated, 3- or 2-sulfated glucuronic acid as well as N-sulfated and/or 6-sulfated glucosamine were also observed. The mollusk HS has an anticoagulant activity of 36 IU mg(-1), 5-fold lower than porcine heparin (180 IU mg(-1)), as measured by the activated partial thromboplastin time assay. It also inhibits factor Xa (IC(50) = 0.835 microg ml(-1)) and thrombin (IC(50) = 9.3 microg ml(-1)) in the presence of antithrombin. In vivo assays demonstrated that at the dose of 1 mg kg(-1), the mollusk HS inhibited thrombus growth in photochemically injured arteries. No bleeding effect, factor XIIa-mediated kallikrein activity, or toxic effect on fibroblast cells was induced by the invertebrate HS at the antithrombotic dose.