The Use of Megamolecular Polysaccharide Sacran in Food and Biomedical Applications

Bacterial extracellular biopolymers: Eco-diversification, biosynthesis, technological development and commercial applications

Synthetic polymers have been widely thriving as mega industries at a commercial scale in various commercial sectors over the last few decades. The extensive use of synthetic polymers has caused several negative repercussions on the health of humans and the environment. Recently, biopolymers have gained more attention among scientists of different disciplines by their potential therapeutic and commercial applications. Biopolymers are chain-like repeating units of molecules isolated from green sources. They are self-degradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic in nature. Recently, eco-friendly biopolymers such as extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) have received much attention for their wide applications in the fields of emulsification, flocculation, preservatives, wastewater treatment, nanomaterial functionalization, drug delivery, cosmetics, glycomics, medicinal chemistry, and purification technology. The dynamicity of applications has raised the industrial and consumer demands to cater to the needs of mankind. This review deals with current insights and highlights on database surveys, potential sources, classification, extremophilic EPSs, bioprospecting, patents, microenvironment stability, biosynthesis, and genetic advances for production of high valued ecofriendly polymers. The importance of high valued EPSs in commercial and industrial applications in the global market economy is also summarized. This review concludes with future perspectives and commercial applications for the well-being of humanity.

Halobacteria Formula Improvement of Skin Care-A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study

BACKGROUND

Halobacteria trueperi, an extremophilic microorganism thriving in high-salt environments, produces extracellular polysaccharides with potential anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. However, its clinical efficacy in skin improvement remains unclear. This study focuses on H. trueperi TCI66207, isolated from the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 662 m near Hualien, and its potential to enhance skin parameters, aiming to develop a novel functional formulation for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.

AIMS

This sudy aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of H. trueperi TCI66207 on various skin parameters and its potential for developing new functional cosmetic formulations.

PATIENTS/METHODS

A total of 40 subjects were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: the test group applied a serum containing H. trueperi TCI66207, while the placebo group used a basic serum. Subjects were instructed to apply the serum twice daily for 4 weeks. Skin parameters, including moisture, brightness, elasticity, pigmentation (spots and UV spots), texture, wrinkles, pores, and collagen density, were assessed before and after the 4-week application period.

RESULTS

After 4 weeks of using the H. trueperi TCI66207 serum, significant improvements were observed in all measured skin parameters compared to baseline, with notable enhancements in moisture, brightness, elasticity, texture, and collagen density, along with reductions in wrinkles, spots, and pore size.

CONCLUSIONS

Halobacteria trueperi TCI66207 serum demonstrates a clear ability to improve skin conditions and delay signs of aging, making it a promising candidate for the development of new cosmetic formulations with potent anti-aging and skin-rejuvenating properties.

Evaluating the Use of Sacran, a Polysaccharide Isolated from Aphanothece sacrum, as a Possible Microbicide for Preventing HIV-1 Infection

Since combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) was introduced to treat human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the AIDS mortality rate has markedly decreased, and convalescence in individuals with HIV has improved drastically. However, sexual transmission has made HIV-1 a global epidemic. Sacran is a megamolecular polysaccharide extracted from cyanobacterium Aphanothece sacrum that exhibits numerous desirable characteristics for transdermic applications, such as safety as a biomaterial, a high moisture retention effect, the ability to form a film and hydrogel, and an anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, we evaluated the anti-HIV-1 effects in sacran as a barrier to HIV-1 transmission. Sacran inhibited HIV-1 infection and envelope-dependent cell-to-cell fusion. Moreover, we used a Transwell assay to confirm that sacran inhibited viral diffusion and captured viruses. The synergistic effects of sacran and other anti-HIV infection drugs were also evaluated. HIV-1 infections can be reduced through the synergistic effects of sacran and anti-HIV-1 drugs. Our study suggests using sacran gel to provide protection against HIV-1 transmission.

Chitosan- and hyaluronic acid-based nanoarchitectures in phototherapy: Combination cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy

Cancer phototherapy has been introduced as a new potential modality for tumor suppression. However, the efficacy of phototherapy has been limited due to a lack of targeted delivery of photosensitizers. Therefore, the application of biocompatible and multifunctional nanoparticles in phototherapy is appreciated. Chitosan (CS) as a cationic polymer and hyaluronic acid (HA) as a CD44-targeting agent are two widely utilized polymers in nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization. The current review focuses on the application of HA and CS nanostructures in cancer phototherapy. These nanocarriers can be used in phototherapy to induce hyperthermia and singlet oxygen generation for tumor ablation. CS and HA can be used for the synthesis of nanostructures, or they can functionalize other kinds of nanostructures used for phototherapy, such as gold nanorods. The HA and CS nanostructures can combine chemotherapy or immunotherapy with phototherapy to augment tumor suppression. Moreover, the CS nanostructures can be functionalized with HA for specific cancer phototherapy. The CS and HA nanostructures promote the cellular uptake of genes and photosensitizers to facilitate gene therapy and phototherapy. Such nanostructures specifically stimulate phototherapy at the tumor site, with particle toxic impacts on normal cells. Moreover, CS and HA nanostructures demonstrate high biocompatibility for further clinical applications.

Structural Analyses of Polysaccharides Extracted from Cyanobacterial Extracellular Gels and Oriented Liquid Crystalline Microfiber Processing by Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Assisted Electrospinning

Sacran is a supergiant cyanobacterial polysaccharide that forms mesogenic supercoil rods that exhibit liquid crystalline (LC) gels at deficient concentrations of around 0.5 wt%, and has several bioactive stimuli-responsive functions. Here, we attempted to form oriented microfibers of sacran by electrospinning, following structural analyses of the sacran rods. A heterogeneous acid-hydrolysis method using a protonated cation-exchange resin was adopted to examine the short-time exposition of concentrated acid to sacran rods. From the supernatant, the oligomeric fraction that was soluble in water and methanol was isolated. The oligomeric fraction had a main sugar ratio of α-Glc:β-Glc:α-Xyl:β-Xyl:α-Rha of 2:5:1.5:1.5:4 (Glc:Xyl:Rha = 7 (=4 + 3):3:4), and it was speculated that the sacran structure includes rhamnoglucan and xyloglucan (4:3), which are generally rigid enough to exhibit LC. To make oriented microfibers of LC sacran, solubility testing was performed on sacran to find good new solvents of polyhydroxy alcohols such as ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, and glycerol. The oriented film was prepared from a sacran aqueous solution where calcium compound particles deposited on the film are different from polyhydroxy alcohol solutions. Although sacran could not form microfibers by itself, polymer composite microfibers of sacran with poly(vinyl alcohol) were prepared by electrospinning. Cross-polarizing microscopy revealed the molecular orientation of the microfibers.

Metal-Assisted Injection Spinning of Ultra Strong Fibers from Megamolecular LC Polysaccharides

The molecular orientation of liquid crystalline (LC) hydrogels has the potential to induce a range of functionalities that can deliver great mechanical strength. Sacran is a supergiant LC polysaccharide isolated from the cyanobacterium Aphanothece sacrum with a high amount of anionic functional groups such as sulfates and carboxylates. In this article, ultra-strong sacran hydrogels and their dried fibers were produced by cross-linking under injection flow with trivalent metal ions such as Al3+, Cr3+, Fe3+, In3+, and rare-earth metal ions such Er3+ and Sr3+. Crossed-polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction imaging revealed a uniaxial molecular orientation in the LC gel fiber, resulting in outstanding mechanical characteristics.

Identification of Desiccation Stress-Inducible Antioxidative and Antiglycative Ultraviolet-Absorbing Oxylipins, Saclipin A and Saclipin B, in an Edible Cyanobacterium Aphanothece sacrum

Aphanothece sacrum, a freshwater cyanobacterium, is an edible cyanobacterial strain. We identified two compounds belonging to the oxylipin family that possess UV-absorbing abilities and accumulate in the dried sample of A. sacrum. The compounds, named saclipin A and saclipin B, exhibited strong UV-absorption properties with the absorption maxima at 316 and 319 nm, respectively, and the molar extinction coefficients of 26,454 and 30,555 M-1 cm-1, respectively. The chemical structures of saclipins A and B have been elucidated, revealing that they have an all-E and a 12Z isomeric relationship within the triene structure. The saclipins could be isomerized by photoirradiation, with the cis-form saclipin B proving to be more stable in methanol, ethanol, or acetonitrile. Under drought stress conditions, the accumulation of saclipins A and B in A. sacrum was found to be increased 20- and 10-fold, respectively. Purified saclipins from A. sacrum showed biocompatibility and valuable bioactivities. Specifically, saclipins exhibited radical scavenging activity, maintaining their activity even 40 min after the reaction began. Additionally, they demonstrated inhibitory activity against glycation of elastin and collagen, which are constituents of dermal tissue. Notably, saclipins showed higher activity than the well-known glycation inhibitor aminoguanidine against collagen glycation.

Recent progress in plant-derived polysaccharides with prebiotic potential for intestinal health by targeting gut microbiota: a review

Natural products of plant origin are of high interest and widely used, especially in the food industry, due to their low toxicity and wide range of bioactive properties. Compared to other plant components, the safety of polysaccharides has been generally recognized. As dietary fibers, plant-derived polysaccharides are mostly degraded in the intestine by polysaccharide-degrading enzymes secreted by gut microbiota, and have potential prebiotic activity in both non-disease and disease states, which should not be overlooked, especially in terms of their involvement in the treatment of intestinal diseases and the promotion of intestinal health. This review elucidates the regulatory effects of plant-derived polysaccharides on gut microbiota and summarizes the mechanisms involved in targeting gut microbiota for the treatment of intestinal diseases. Further, the structure-activity relationships between different structural types of plant-derived polysaccharides and the occurrence of their prebiotic activity are further explored. Finally, the practical applications of plant-derived polysaccharides in food production and food packaging are summarized and discussed, providing important references for expanding the application of plant-derived polysaccharides in the food industry or developing functional dietary supplements.

Portulaca oleracea L. Polysaccharide Inhibits Porcine Rotavirus In Vitro

Diarrhea is one of the most common causes of death in young piglets. Porcine rotavirus (PoRV) belongs to the genus Rotavirus within the family Reoviridae, and is considered to be the primary pathogen causing diarrhea in piglets. Portulaca oleracea L. (POL) has been reported to alleviate diarrhea and viral infections. However, the antiviral effect of Portulaca oleracea L. polysaccharide (POL-P), an active component of POL, on PoRV infection remains unclear. This study demonstrated that the safe concentration range of POL-P in IPEC-J2 cells is 0-400 μg/mL. POL-P (400 μg/mL) effectively inhibits PoRV infection in IPEC-J2 cells, reducing the expression of rotavirus VP6 protein, mRNA and virus titer. Furthermore, on the basis of viral life cycle analysis, we showed that POL-P can decrease the expression of PoRV VP6 protein, mRNA, and virus titer during the internalization and replication stages of PoRV. POL-P exerts antiviral effects by increasing IFN-α expression and decreasing the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 inflammatory factors. Overall, our study found that POL-P is a promising candidate for anti-PoRV drugs.

Research Progress on the Therapeutic Effect of Polysaccharides on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through the Regulation of the Gut–Liver Axis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease affecting global public health at present, which can induce cirrhosis and liver cancer in serious cases. However, NAFLD is a multifactorial disease, and there is still a lack of research on its mechanism and therapeutic strategy. With the development of the gut–liver axis theory, the association between the gut–liver axis and the pathogenesis of NAFLD has been gradually disclosed. Polysaccharides, as a kind of natural product, have the advantages of low toxicity, multi-target and multi-pathway action. It has been reported that polysaccharides can affect the gut–liver axis at multiple interrelated levels, such as maintaining the ecological balance of gut microbiota (GM), regulating the metabolites of GM and improving the intestinal barrier function, which thereby plays a protective role in NAFLD. These studies have great scientific significance in understanding NAFLD based on the gut–liver axis and developing safe and effective medical treatments. Herein, we reviewed the recent progress of polysaccharides in improving nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through the gut–liver axis.

Chitosan-Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles for Active Targeting in Cancer Therapy

Cancer is the most common cause of death worldwide; therefore, there is a need to discover novel treatment modalities to combat it. One of the cancer treatments is nanoparticle technology. Currently, nanoparticles have been modified to have desirable pharmacological effects by using chemical ligands that bind with their specific receptors on the surface of malignant cells. Chemical grafting of chitosan nanoparticles with hyaluronic acid as a targeted ligand can become an attractive alternative for active targeting. Hence, these nanoparticles can control drug release with pH- responsive stimuli, and high selectivity of hyaluronic acid to CD44 receptors makes these nanoparticles accumulate more inside cells that overexpress these receptors (cancer cells). In this context, we discuss the benefits and recent findings of developing and utilizing chitosan–hyaluronic acid nanoparticles against distinct forms of cancer malignancy. From here we know that chitosan–hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (CHA-Np) can produce a nanoparticle system with good characteristics, effectiveness, and a good active targeting on various types of cancer cells. Therefore, this system is a good candidate for targeted drug delivery for cancer therapy, anticipating that CHA-Np could be further developed for various cancer therapy applications.