Determination of carrageenan by means of photometric titration with Methylene Blue and Toluidine Blue dyes

Rheological and Structural Characterization of Carrageenans during Depolymerization Conducted by a Marine Bacterium Shewanella sp. LE8

Carrageenans were widely utilized as thickening and gelling agents in the food and cosmetic industries, and their oligosaccharides have been proven to possess enhanced physicochemical and biological properties. In this study, Shewanella sp. LE8 was utilized for the depolymerization of κ-, ι-, and λ-carrageenan under conditions of fermentation. During a 24-h fermentation at 28 °C, the apparent viscosity of κ-, ι-, and λ-carrageenan decreased by 53.12%, 84.10%, and 59.33%, respectively, accompanied by a decrease in storage modulus, and loss modulus. After a 72-h fermentation, the analysis of methylene blue and molecular weight distribution revealed that ι-carrageenan was extensively depolymerized into smaller polysaccharides by Shewanella sp. LE8, while exhibiting partial degradation on κ- and λ-carrageenan. However, the impact of Shewanella sp. LE8 on total sugars was found to be limited; nevertheless, a significant increase in reduced sugar content was observed. The ESIMS analysis results revealed that the purified components obtained through ι-carrageenan fermentation for 72 h were identified as tetrasaccharides, while the two purified components derived from λ-carrageenan fermentation consisted of a hexasaccharide and a tetrasaccharide, respectively. Overall, the present study first reported the depolymerization of ι-and λ-carrageenan by Shewanella and suggested that the Shewanella could be used to depolymerize multiple carrageenans, as well as complex polysaccharides derived from red algae, to further obtain their oligosaccharides.

A spectroscopic response factor-based toluidine blue assay towards a universal assay protocol for sulfated polysaccharides: Application to fucoidan content in crude extract

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPS) have attracted a lot of interest because of their diverse pharmacological functions. Numerous scientific studies have shown that SPS exhibit better biological activity than those that are not sulfated, such as immunomodulatory, anti-viral, and antioxidant activities. A crucial step to a better understanding of the mechanism of action and health effects is the production of high purity SPS. This calls for the development of selective assay techniques that can identify SPS preferentially without being influenced by other substances or the co-extracted polysaccharides. A universal modified toluidine blue (TB) assay was developed in this study to detect SPS. The assay procedures were conducted using different SPS standards including fucoidans from different biogenic sources, in addition to heparin and dextran sulfate. Spectroscopic response factor was calculated for each SPS which showed very good correlation (R2 = 0.998) with the corresponding sulfation degree. The proposed method was applied for determination of SPS content of crude fucoidan product using five different SPS standards. The method was cross validated by conducting ANOVA test to the obtained % recovery revealing that there is no significant difference between the results obtained by identical reference standard and four nonidentical natural SPS standards. This is the first report of a selective universal assay of SPS that enables the selective determination of SPS using a nonidentical reference standard.

Structure and Flocculation of Ion Associates of Carrageenan and Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) Depending on the Component Ratio

Carrageenan is a polysaccharide of a plant origin, commonly used as a thickening and gelling agent in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Due to the negative charges of its sulfate groups, carrageenan macromolecules strongly interact with oppositely charged polyions. The ionic complexes of carrageenan with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) were obtained at the molar ratios 4:1, 2;1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4. The structure and characteristics of the polyanion-polycation associates were studied by XRD, IR, optical microscopy, and via sedimentation and particle size measurements. It was found that the suspended particles flocculate and settle fastest when the molar ratio of the polyions is near 1:1. Turbidimetric titration experiments enabled us to measure the molar ratio of cationic to anionic groups at the onset of flocculation, and the value in question was found to be 1:1.32. In other words, a mass of 511 mg carrageenan corresponds to one millimole of ester sulfate (monobasic) groups. The measurement of the onset of flocculation has been employed for the accurate determination of carrageenan in real samples of food products. The color and turbidity of the sample do not interfere with the determination results.

Smartphone-based technique for the determination of a titration equivalence point from an RGB linear-segment curve with an example application to miniaturized titration of sodium chloride injections

A smartphone-based technique for determining the titration equivalence point from a linear-segment curve was developed for the first time. In this method, a titrant in an increasing microliter-volume was added to a set of sample aliquots containing an indicator covering both sides of the equivalence point. The solutions were subsequently photographed in one shot, in a dark box using a smartphone camera and an illuminating screen of a tablet or light emitting diode lamps arranged below a white acrylic sheet as a light source. After the colors of the solutions were delineated to Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) values, 1/log G was used to construct a plot in which the equivalence point was located at the intersection of the two lines in the region before and after the equivalence point. The technique was successfully applied to the miniaturized titration of sodium chloride injections, showing the good linear relationship of equivalence points to the sodium chloride concentration in the range of 0.4163-0.9675% w/v (R² of 0.9998). The assay was accurate (% recovery of 98.92-100.52), precise (% relative standard deviation ≤ 1.20), and unaffected by the use of different types of microplates, smartphones, and RGB analysis tools. Additionally, it required no expensive nor complicated equipment and offered the possibility of performing analysis on a single smartphone device when it was used with a mobile application developed to aid data processing and immediate production of reports of analytical results.

Detection of Carrageenan in Meat Products Using Lectin Histochemistry

Carrageenan is a polysaccharide that is widely used in the food industry. Due to its water holding capacity, there is a higher risk of adulteration for economic reasons related to it. A verifiable method for detecting carrageenan is still missing in the food inspection sector. The detection of carrageenan in meat products is not well described. Our study describes lectin histochemistry as a novel approach for carrageenan detection. Within this study, the detection of carrageenan in meat products by lectin histochemistry is validated. Lectins of Arachis hypogaea (PNA) and Bandeiraea simlicifolia (BSA), specific for galactose units of carrageenan, were used. The samples included model meat products (ground chicken-meat products) and meat products from retail markets (chicken and pork hams, sausages, salami, and dried sausages). The limit of determination (LoD) of this method was set at 0.01 g kg^-1. The method sensitivity for lectin PNA reached 1, and, for lectin BSA, it reached 0.96. Method specificity for lectin PNA was 1, and, for lectin BSA, it was 1.33. Cross-reactivity with other hydrocolloids tested was not confirmed. The results confirm that lectin histochemistry is suitable for detecting carrageenan in meat products.

The development of analytical methods for the purity determination of fucoidan extracted from brown seaweed species

To determine the purity of extracted fucoidan from brown seaweeds, analytical methods were developed, including spectroscopy (i.e., Attenuate total reflectance (ATR) - Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman) combined with chemometrics; and the results were compared with those of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and other two chemistry methods (i.e., fucoidan estimation based on fucose content and a cationic dye method based on sulphated polysaccharide estimation). Quantitative models (i.e., partial least squares regression (PLSR)) were developed and cross-validated using FT-IR spectroscopic methods (R2CV ~ 0.998, RMSECV ~1.7%). The models were also validated using other four commercial fucoidan products. On the other hand, the same commercial samples were used to validate the two chemistry methods and the HPLC method. Estimation results of these analytical methods were discussed based on the potential of these analytical methods for fucoidan purity determination. The results demonstrated FT-IR spectroscopy with chemometrics potentially could be used for non-destructive and real time determination.

Fucoidan Characterization: Determination of Purity and Physicochemical and Chemical Properties

Fucoidans are marine sulfated biopolysaccharides that have heterogenous and complicated chemical structures. Various sugar monomers, glycosidic linkages, molecular masses, branching sites, and sulfate ester pattern and content are involved within their backbones. Additionally, sources, downstream processes, and geographical and seasonal factors show potential effects on fucoidan structural characteristics. These characteristics are documented to be highly related to fucoidan potential activities. Therefore, numerous chemical qualitative and quantitative determinations and structural elucidation methods are conducted to characterize fucoidans regarding their physicochemical and chemical features. Characterization of fucoidan polymers is considered a bottleneck for further biological and industrial applications. Consequently, the obtained results may be related to different activities, which could be improved afterward by further functional modifications. The current article highlights the different spectrometric and nonspectrometric methods applied for the characterization of native fucoidans, including degree of purity, sugar monomeric composition, sulfation pattern and content, molecular mass, and glycosidic linkages.

Formation of Higher Structural Levels in λ-Carrageenan Induced by the Antimalarial Drug Chloroquine

The linear polysaccharide λ-carrageenan is the only one among the carrageenans not forming secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures in the presence of inorganic ions. Chloroquine (CQ) is a well-established antimalaria drug also recently discussed in therapeutics against the COVID-19 pandemic. The interaction of this polysaccharide-ionic drug pair was investigated by combining UV-vis spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. A decrease of the UV peak assigned to free CQ and the occurrence of isosbestic points indicate the formation of complexes. High-resolution AFM height images revealed an increasing height of the single polysaccharide chains in the random coil state upon addition of CQ, indicating the formation of a secondary structure, followed by higher hierarchical aggregates. The disappearance of higher-ordered structures and the recovery of polysaccharide chains with primary structure were observed by introducing inorganic cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺), replacing the condensed CQ and paving the way to reversible ion-induced drug release.

Highly Sensitive Fluorescence Sensor for Carrageenan from a Composite Methylcellulose/Polyacrylate Membrane

Carrageenans are linear sulphated polysaccharides that are commonly added into confectionery products but may exert a detrimental effect to human health. A new and simpler way of carrageenan determination based on an optical sensor utilizing a methylcellulose/poly(n-butyl acrylate) (Mc/PnBA) composite membrane with immobilized methylene blue (MB) was developed. The hydrophilic Mc polymer membrane was successfully modified with a more hydrophobic acrylic polymer. This was to produce an insoluble membrane at room temperature where MB reagent could be immobilized to build an optical sensor for carrageenan analysis. The fluorescence intensity of MB in the composite membrane was found to be proportional to the carrageenan concentrations in a linear manner (1.0–20.0 mg L⁻¹, R² = 0.992) and with a detection limit at 0.4 mg L⁻¹. Recovery of spiked carrageenan into commercial fruit juice products showed percentage recoveries between 90% and 102%. The optical sensor has the advantages of improved sensitivity and better selectivity to carrageenan when compared to other types of hydrocolloids. Its sensitivity was comparable to most sophisticated techniques for carageenan analysis but better than other types of optical sensors. Thus, this sensor provides a simple, rapid, and sensitive means for carageenan analysis.

A carrageenan/agarose composite sponge and its immunomodulatory activities toward RAW264.7

A kind of commercial hybrid carrageenan (HC)/agarose composite sponge containing κ-, μ-, ι-, and ν-carrageenan, which could turn into hydrogel and release carrageenan at human body temperature was fabricated for immune stimulation and modulation. Release behavior demonstrated that the hybrid carrageenan contained sponge was mechanically stable and could release carrageenan constantly. RT-PCR and ELISA experiments showed that the leaching liquor of the sponge could stimulate RAW264.7 from M0 state to a polarized state by secreting more anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 than pro-inflammatory ones, such as, IL-6 and TNF-α. Transwell experiments also indicated that the leaching liquor could promote the proliferation of NIH-3T3 by stimulating RAW264.7 of M0 state after 7 days. Results of particle size and intracellular concentration analyses suggested that the released carrageenan might enter into the cellular interior of RAW264.7 in the form of microgels or protein complexes. The sponge would be a promising candidate for skin wound dressing.

A comparative study of sulfated tara gum: RSM optimization and structural characterization

Interest in galactomannans and its derivatives as a functional health supplement is growing based on physicochemical properties. In this work, the optimized conditions of sulfated tara gum (STG) with a maximum DS of 0.66 by box-behnken design (BBD) were obtained as following: ratio of chlorosulfonic acid/pyridine 3:1, reaction time 4 h and reaction temperature 40 °C. The structure features of STG such as the degree of substitution (DS), substitution position, weight average molar mass (M_W), monosaccharide components and chain conformation were investigated. Decreasing of M_W, the increasing of Z-average radius of gyration (〈S²〉_Z^1/2) and specific volume for gyration (SV_g) were obtained by SEC-MALLS. In addition, the structural properties of four sulfated galactomannans were comparatively investigated and analyzed based on our earlier reports of sulfated fenugreek gum, guar gum and locust bean gum. A conclusion was drown that higher galactose branch could enhance steric hindrance, which was inferred as one of the significant factors for the derivatization efficiency, thus affecting the DS, M_W and conformational transition of sulfated galactomannans. This study will provide valuable information for further research on the comparison of bioactivities and medical application of galactomannans family.

Effect of carrageenans alone and in combination with casein or lipopolysaccharide on human epithelial intestinal HT-29 cells

The research described here was focused on the effect on human intestinal epithelial cell monolayers of sulfated red algal polysaccharides (κ-, λ-, and κ/β-carrageenans) alone and in combination with casein or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). HT-29 cells were investigated under normal and stress conditions; stress was induced by exposure to ethanol. Cell viability was monitored with a real-time system. The change in binding properties of negatively sulfated red algal polysaccharides assessed by the measurement of free carrageenans in mixtures with casein or McCoy's 5 A culture medium by means of toluidine blue O. Low sulfate content and the presence of 3,6-anhydogalactose are prerequisites for the recovery of ethanol-exposed HT-29 cells by carrageenans. Analysis of carrageenan binding ability confirmed that casein and LPS should affect carrageenan activity. Whether the combined action of the mucin-containing layer and carrageenans or the action of carrageenans alone was responsible for enhanced cell viability under stress conditions induced by ethanol is a subject for further research. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2843-2850, 2017.