The European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE) research roadmap 2040: Advanced strategies for exploiting the vast potential of polysaccharides as renewable bioresources

Synthesis and unambiguous NMR characterization of linear and branched N-alkyl chitosan derivatives

Chitosan, sourced from abundant chitin-rich waste streams, emerges as a promising candidate in the realm of future functional materials and chemicals. While showing numerous advantageous properties, chitosan sometimes falls short of competing with today's non-renewable alternatives. Chemical derivatization, particularly through N-alkylation, proves promising in enhancing hydrophobic functionalities. This study synthesizes fifteen chitosan derivatives (degree of substitution = 2-10 %) using an improved reductive amination method. Next, selective depolymerization through acid hydrolysis reduced the chain rigidity imposed by the polymer backbone. This facilitated unambiguous structural characterization of the synthesized compounds using a combination of common NMR techniques. Two potential side reactions are identified for the first time, emphasizing the need for detailed structural information to unlock the true potential of these derivatives in future applications. HYPOTHESIS: The increase in chain mobility induced by the selective depolymerization of aliphatic N-alkyl chitosan derivatives allows for an unambiguous NMR characterization.

Chemically Recyclable Pseudo-Polysaccharides from Living Ring-Opening Polymerization of Glucurono-1,6-lactones

Recent advances in synthetic methods and monomer design have given access to precision carbohydrate polymers that extend beyond native polysaccharides. In this article, we present the synthesis of a class of chemically recyclable ester-linked pseudo-polysaccharides via the living anionic ring-opening polymerization of glucurono-1,6-lactones. Notably, the pseudo-polysaccharides exhibited defined chain-end groups, well-controlled molecular weights, and narrow molecular weight distributions, all hallmarks of living polymerization. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our approach is modular, as evidenced by tunable glass transition temperatures (Tg) and the ability to produce both amorphous and semicrystalline polymers by adjusting the monomer side chain structure. Lastly, we showcased the complete catalytic chemical recycling of these pseudo-polysaccharides back to the monomers. The flexibility of the polymerization and the recyclability of these pseudo-polysaccharides promote a sustainable circular economy while offering the potential to access polysaccharide-like materials with tunable thermal and mechanical properties.

A review of the fungal polysaccharides as natural biopolymers: Current applications and future perspective

As a unique natural resource, fungi are a sustainable source of lipids, polysaccharides, vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients. As a result, they have beneficial medicinal and nutritional properties. Polysaccharides are among the most significant bioactive components found in fungi. Increasing research has revealed that fungal polysaccharides (FPS) contain a variety of bioactivities, including antitumor, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and anti-aging properties. However, the exact knowledge about FPS and their applications related to their future possibilities must be thoroughly examined to enhance a better understanding of this sustainable biopolymer source. Therefore, FPS' biological applications and their role in the food and feed industry, agriculture, and cosmetics applications were all discussed in this work. In addition, this review highlighted the mode of action of FPS on human diseases by regulating gut microbiota and discussed the mechanism of FPS as antioxidants in the living cell. The structure-activity connections of FPS were also highlighted and explored. Moreover, future perspectives were listed to pave the way for future studies of FPS applications. Hence, this study can be a scientific foundation for future FPS research and industrial applications.

Capecitabine loaded potato starch-chitosan nanoparticles: A novel approach for targeted therapy and improved outcomes in aggressive colon cancer

Aggressive colon cancer treatment poses significant challenges. This study investigates the potential of innovative carbohydrate-based nanoparticles for targeted Capecitabine (CTB) delivery. CTB nanoparticles were synthesized by conjugating CTB with potato starch and chitosan using ultrasonication, hydrolysis, and ionotropic gelation. Characterization included drug loading, rheology, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). In vitro and in vivo antitumor activity was evaluated using HT-29 cells and N, N-dimethylhydrazine-induced Balb/c mice, respectively. Cellular assays assessed angiogenesis, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. Nanoparticles exhibited a mean size of 245 nm, positive zeta potential (+30 mV), high loading efficacy (76 %), and sustained drug release (92 % over 100 h). CTB-loaded nanoparticles displayed superior colon histology, reduced tumour scores, and inhibited VEGD and CD31 expression compared to free CTB. Cellular assays confirmed significant antitumor effects, including reduced tube formation, migration, and proliferation, and increased apoptosis. This study demonstrates the promise of CTB-loaded potato starch-chitosan nanoparticles for aggressive colon cancer treatment. These findings highlight the potential of these nanoparticles for further evaluation in diverse cancer models.

Aggregation Behavior and Application Properties of Novel Glycosylamide Quaternary Ammonium Salts in Aqueous Solution

Amidation of lactobionic acid with N,N-dimethylaminopropyltriamine was conducted to obtain N-(3'-dimethylaminopropyl)-lactamido-3-aminopropane (DDLPD), which was quaternized with bromoalkanes of different carbon chain lengths to synthesize double-stranded lactosylamide quaternary ammonium salt N-[N'[3-(lactosylamide)]propyl-N'-alkyl] propyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-alkylammonium bromide (CnDDLPB, n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16). The surface activity and the adsorption and aggregation behaviors of the surfactants were investigated via equilibrium surface tension, dynamic light scattering, and cryo-electron microscopy measurements in an aqueous solution. The application properties of the products in terms of wettability, emulsification, foam properties, antistatic, salt resistance, and bacteriostatic properties were tested. CnDDLPB exhibited a low equilibrium surface tension of 27.82 mN/m. With an increase in the carbon chain length, the critical micellar concentration of CnDDLPBD decreased. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed that all products except C8DDLPB formed stable monolayer, multi-layer, and multi-compartmental vesicle structures in an aqueous solution. C14DDLPB has the best emulsification performance on soybean oil, with a time of 16.6 min; C14DDLPB has good wetting and spreading properties on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) when the length of carbon chain is from 8 to 14, and the contact angle can be lowered to 33°~40°; CnDDLPB has low foam, which is typical of low-foaming products; C8DDLPB and C10DDLPB both show good antistatic properties. C8DDLPB and C14DDLPB have good salt resistance, and C12DDLPB has the best antimicrobial property, with the inhibition rate of 99.29% and 95.28% for E. coli and Gluconococcus aureus, respectively, at a concentration of 350 ppm.

Advancements in Detection and Mitigation Strategies for Petroleum-Derived Contaminants in Aquatic Environments: A Comprehensive Review

The exponential increase in the production and transportation of petroleum-derived products observed in recent years has been driven by the escalating demand for energy, textiles, plastic-based materials, and other goods derived from petroleum. Consequently, there has been a corresponding rise in spills of these petroleum derivatives, particularly in water sources utilized for transportation or, occasionally, illegally utilized for tank cleaning or industrial equipment maintenance. Numerous researchers have proposed highly effective techniques for detecting these products, aiming to facilitate their cleanup or containment and thereby minimize environmental pollution. However, many of these techniques rely on the identification of individual compounds, which presents significant drawbacks, including complexity of handling, subjectivity, lengthy analysis times, infeasibility for in situ analysis, and high costs. In response, there has been a notable surge in the utilization of sensors or generalized profiling techniques serving as sensors to generate characteristic fingerprints of these products, thereby circumventing the aforementioned disadvantages. This review comprehensively examines the evolution of techniques employed for detecting petroleum-derived products in water samples, along with their associated advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the review examines current perspectives on methods for the removal and/or containment of these products from water sources, to minimize their environmental impact and the associated health repercussions on living organisms and ecosystems.

The sweetest polymer nanoparticles: opportunities ahead for glycogen in nanomedicine

Most cells take simple sugar (α-D-glucose) and assemble it into highly dense polysaccharide nanoparticles called glycogen. This is achieved through the action of multiple coupled-enzymatic reactions, yielding the cellular store of polymerised glucose to be degraded in times of metabolic need. These nanoparticles can be readily isolated from various animal tissues and plants, and are commercially available on a large scale. Importantly, glycogen is highly water soluble, non-toxic, low-fouling, and biodegradable, making it an attractive nanoparticle for use in nanomedicine, for both diagnosing and treating disease. This concept has been pursued actively recently, with exciting results on a variety of fronts, especially for targeting specific tissues and delivering nucleic acid and peptide cargo. In this perspective, the role of glycogen in nanomedicine going forward is discussed, with opportunities highlighted of where these sugary nanoparticles fit into the problem of treating disease.

From Nature-Sourced Polysaccharide Particles to Advanced Functional Materials

Polysaccharides constitute over 90% of the carbohydrate mass in nature, which makes them a promising feedstock for manufacturing sustainable materials. Polysaccharide particles (PSPs) are used as effective scavengers, carriers of chemical and biological cargos, and building blocks for the fabrication of macroscopic materials. The biocompatibility and degradability of PSPs are advantageous for their uses as biomaterials with more environmental friendliness. This review highlights the progresses in PSP applications as advanced functional materials, by describing PSP extraction, preparation, and surface functionalization with a variety of functional groups, polymers, nanoparticles, and biologically active species. This review also outlines the fabrication of PSP-derived macroscopic materials, as well as their applications in soft robotics, sensing, scavenging, water harvesting, drug delivery, and bioengineering. The paper is concluded with an outlook providing perspectives in the development and applications of PSP-derived materials.

From fundamental insights to rational (bio)polymer nanocomposite design - Connecting the nanometer to meter scale

Nanoparticle addition has the potential to make bioplastic use mainstream, as the resultant nanocomposite shows improved mechanical, barrier, and thermal properties. It is well established that the architecture and dynamics of the nanoparticle-polymer interphasial region, ∼ 1.5-9 nm from the nanoparticle surface, are crucial for nanocomposite characteristics. Yet, how these molecular phenomena translate to the bulk is still largely unknown. A multi-disciplinary and multi-scale vision is required to capture the full picture and improve materials far beyond what is currently possible. In this review, a first step in bridging the apparent gap between fundamental insights toward observed material properties is made. At the molecular scale, the polymer chain density and dynamics at the nanoparticle surface are governed by a complex interplay between enthalpy and entropy. The resultant interphasial properties can only be propagated to the macroscopic scale effectively when the nanoparticles are well-distributed. This makes the dispersion state a key parameter for which thermodynamic and kinetic insights can be used to prevent nanoparticle aggregation. These insights are linked to material properties relevant to packaging. The outlook section elaborates on the remaining challenges and the steps required to further understand and better design nanocomposite systems.