Synthesis of nanofiber-formable carboxymethylated Euglena-derived β-1,3-glucan

The Characterization and Functional Properties of Euglena gracilis Paramylon Treated with Different Methods

Euglena gracilis paramylon (EGP) is a polymeric polysaccharide composed of linear β-1,3 glucan. The water insolubility of EGP severely limits its application. This work aimed to improve the functional characteristics of EGP by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) degradation and carboxymethylated modification. The results showed that the crystallinity of EGP degraded by H₂O₂ and carboxymethylated modification decreased by 14% and 46%, and the thermal degradation temperature was significantly descending in a crystallinity-dependent manner. In addition, the results showed that H₂O₂ degradation and carboxymethylation significantly improved the adsorption capacity of EGP for oil, dyes, and metal ions, and their water solubility increased by 9% and 85%. This result will provide a valuable theoretical basis for the development and utilization of EGP.

Characterization and Antibacterial Activities of Carboxymethylated Paramylon from Euglena gracilis

Paramylon from Euglena gracilis (EGP) is a polymeric polysaccharide composed of linear β-1,3 glucan. EGP has been proved to have antibacterial activity, but its effect is weak due to its water insolubility and high crystallinity. In order to change this deficiency, this experiment carried out carboxymethylated modification of EGP. Three carboxymethylated derivatives, C-EGP1, C-EGP2, and C-EGP3, with a degree of substitution (DS) of 0.14, 0.55, and 0.78, respectively, were synthesized by varying reaction conditions, such as the mass of chloroacetic acid and temperature. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis confirmed the success of the carboxymethylated modification. The Congo red (CR) experiment, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetry (TG) were used to study the conformation, surface morphology, crystalline nature, and thermostability of the carboxymethylated EGP. The results showed that carboxymethylation did not change the triple helix structure of the EGP, but that the fundamental particles’ surface morphology was destroyed, and the crystallization area and thermal stability decreased obviously. In addition, the water solubility test and antibacterial experiment showed that the water solubility and antibacterial activity of the EGP after carboxymethylation were obviously improved, and that the water solubility of C-EGP1, C-EGP2, and C-EGP3 increased by 53.31%, 75.52%, and 80.96% respectively. The antibacterial test indicated that C-EGP3 had the best effect on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 12.50 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL. The diameters of the inhibition zone of C-EGP3 on E. coli and S. aureus were 11.24 ± 0.15 mm and 12.05 ± 0.09 mm, and the antibacterial rate increased by 41.33% and 43.67%.

A review of paramylon processing routes from microalga biomass to non-derivatized and chemically modified products

Paramylon is a linear β-1,3-glucan, similar to curdlan, produced as intracellular granules by the microalga Euglena gracilis, a highly versatile and robust strain, able to grow under various trophic conditions, with valorization of CO_2, wastewaters, or food byproducts as nutrients. This review focuses in particular on the various processing routes leading to new potential paramylon based products. Due to its crystalline structure, involving triple helices stabilized by internal intermolecular hydrogen bonds, paramylon is neither water-soluble nor thermoplastic. The few solvents able to disrupt the triple helices, and to fully solubilize the polymer as random coils, allow non derivatizing shaping into films, fibers, and even nanofibers by a specific self-assembly mechanism. Chemical modification in homogeneous or heterogeneous conditions is also possible. The non-selective or regioselective substitution of the hydroxyl groups of glucosidic units leads to water-soluble ionic derivatives and thermoplastic paramylon esters with foreseen applications ranging from health to bioplastics.

Challenges and recent trends with the development of hydrogel fiber for biomedical applications

Hydrogel is the most emblematic soft material which possesses significantly tunable and programmable characteristics. Polymer hydrogels possess significant advantages including, biocompatible, simple, reliable and low cost. Therefore, research on the development of hydrogel for biomedical applications has been grown intensely. However, hydrogel development is challenging and required significant effort before the application at an industrial scale. Therefore, the current work focused on evaluating recent trends and issues with hydrogel development for biomedical applications. In addition, the hydrogel's development methodology, physicochemical properties, and biomedical applications are evaluated and benchmarked against the reported literature. Later, biomedical applications of the nano-cellulose-based hydrogel are considered and critically discussed. Based on a detailed review, it has been found that the surface energy, intermolecular interactions, and interactions of hydrogel adhesion forces are major challenges that contribute to the development of hydrogel. In addition, compared to other hydrogels, nanocellulose hydrogels demonstrated higher potential for drug delivery, 3D cell culture, diagnostics, tissue engineering, tissue therapies and gene therapies. Overall, nanocellulose hydrogel has the potential for commercialization for different biomedical applications.

Paramylon and synthesis of its ionic derivatives: Applications as pharmaceutical tablet disintegrants and as colloid flocculants

Paramylon, a high molecular weight polysaccharide, is a linear and unbranched (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan. Despite its numerous biological benefits, the poor aqueous solubility of crystalline paramylon is a drawback that has hampered some of its applications. In an effort to make this biomaterial amenable to practical uses, cationic and anionic paramylon derivatives were obtained. The degrees of substitution of both products were determined. The products were characterized by FT-IR spectrocopy, ESI mass spectrometry, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹H-¹³C NMR and SEM microscopy. These techniques confirmed the success of the substitution reactions. ¹H NMR analysis was used to develop alternative methods for an approximate estimation of the degree of substitution. ¹H-¹³C HSQC NMR spectra were assigned for both derivatives. New applications of native, cationic and anionic paramylon were found. Native paramylon showed similar performance as pharmaceutical tablet disintegrant than sodium croscarmellose. Cationic paramylon behavior as colloid flocculant was comparable with commercial cationic polyacrylamides. The anionic derivative could eventually be used in the formulation of matrix controlled release systems or as a suspending agent.