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Polysaccharides, Volume 4, Issue 1 (March 2023) – 6 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Pectin is a polysaccharide that has been recently gaining attention because it is renewable, inexpensive, biocompatible, degradable, non-toxic, non-polluting, and has mechanical integrity. The recent extraction techniques and modification to the structural property of pectin have led to modified pectin, whose chemical and surface functional groups yield galacturonic acid and galactose contents, which are primarily responsible for its improved and better use in biomedical applications, thus producing high-value products. Modified pectin can be combined with a wide range of biopolymers with unique characteristics and activities, which has enabled its current applications through different approaches, such as its synergistic and prebiotic effects, gut microbiota effect and antiviral properties, in addition to its prominent anti-cancer functional capabilities. View this paper
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10 pages, 301 KiB  
Article
Study of Varietal Differences in the Composition of Heteropolysaccharides of Oil Flax and Fiber Flax
by Elena Ozhimkova, Igor Uschapovsky and Oleg Manaenkov
Polysaccharides 2023, 4(1), 78-87; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4010006 - 25 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1066
Abstract
Flaxseed mucilage and its derivatives have been extensively investigated over the last decade, mainly due to their inherent techno-functional (thickening, gelling, interface-stabilizing, and film-forming) properties that are relevant in the food industry. Hydrocolloids are used to modify food properties, such as for stabilization [...] Read more.
Flaxseed mucilage and its derivatives have been extensively investigated over the last decade, mainly due to their inherent techno-functional (thickening, gelling, interface-stabilizing, and film-forming) properties that are relevant in the food industry. Hydrocolloids are used to modify food properties, such as for stabilization and emulsion, and are also used to control the microstructure of the food. Increasing research attention has been paid to the application of hydrocolloid materials in gel particles for encapsulation or texture control in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and probiotic products. Thus, it is important to investigate the properties of hydrocolloids manufactured from various sources and explore their possible applications in the food industry. The applied nature of the study of plant mucus substances is associated with the ever-increasing demand for their use in the food, cosmetic, and pharmacological industries, determining the related research priorities, including the development of the most effective methods for the extraction of glycans and the search for highly productive raw materials for the production of polysaccharides. The aim of this work was to study varietal differences in the compositions of heteropolysaccharides in the mucus samples of oilseed and fiber flax varieties using a modern methodological approach for obtaining glycans based on the ultrasonic extraction of polysaccharides. The seeds of 10 flax varieties were studied, differing in their morphotype, place, and time of creation. The obtained results indicated significant differences in the quantitative and qualitative compositions of the heteropolysaccharides of flax seeds of various varieties. The contents of reducing sugars in the studied varieties ranged from 5.61 ± 0.01 to 18.81 ± 0.01 mg/g, indicating significant differences in the structural organization of glycans in different flax varieties. Additionally, the results obtained here allowed us to conclude that the range of reducing sugars for flax heteropolysaccharides is significantly less than this range for oilseed flax varieties. The obtained results of the study of the composition of flax seed heteropolysaccharides allowed us to consider them as selection trait and genetic markers. Full article
13 pages, 2767 KiB  
Article
Effect of Dissolution Time on the Development of All-Cellulose Composites Using the NaOH/Urea Solvent System
by Juan Francisco Delgado, Andrés Gerardo Salvay, Silvana Arroyo, Celina Raquel Bernal and María Laura Foresti
Polysaccharides 2023, 4(1), 65-77; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4010005 - 18 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1787
Abstract
Innovative and sustainable all-cellulose composites (ACCs) can be obtained by partial dissolution of cellulosic fibers and regeneration of the dissolved fraction. Among cellulose solvents, sodium hydroxide/urea solutions are recognized as promising low-environmental impact systems. In this work, filter paper (FP) was dissolved with [...] Read more.
Innovative and sustainable all-cellulose composites (ACCs) can be obtained by partial dissolution of cellulosic fibers and regeneration of the dissolved fraction. Among cellulose solvents, sodium hydroxide/urea solutions are recognized as promising low-environmental impact systems. In this work, filter paper (FP) was dissolved with a 7 wt% NaOH/12 wt% urea aqueous solution, kept at −18 °C for different time intervals, regenerated with distilled water and finally dried under different conditions. The developed films were characterized in terms of morphology, porosity, optical properties, crystalline structure, hydration and mechanical properties. The porosity of the composites decreased with dissolution time due to the progressive filling of voids as the cellulosic fibers’ surface skin layer was dissolved and regenerated. Samples treated for 4 h showed the minimum values of porosity and opacity, high hydration and a substantial change from cellulose I to cellulose II. Hot pressing during drying led to relevant improvements in ACCs stiffness and strength values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives)
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12 pages, 1797 KiB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Sustainable Antimicrobial Films Incorporated with Natamycin and Cellulose Nanocrystals for Cheese Preservation
by Miriane Maria de Sousa, Vânia Miria C. Clemente, Rosilene Maria de S. Santos, Mariane Oliveira, José Osvaldo Ramos Silva, Laís Fernanda Batista, Clara Suprani Marques, Amanda Lélis de Souza, Éber Antônio Alves Medeiros and Nilda de Fátima Ferreira Soares
Polysaccharides 2023, 4(1), 53-64; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4010004 - 21 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1375
Abstract
Environmental pollution and food safety are both issues of global concern. In this sense, sustainable and antimicrobial nanocomposites based on cellulose/poly (vinyl alcohol) blend incorporated with natamycin and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were manufactured and characterized. The developed films were evaluated according to their [...] Read more.
Environmental pollution and food safety are both issues of global concern. In this sense, sustainable and antimicrobial nanocomposites based on cellulose/poly (vinyl alcohol) blend incorporated with natamycin and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were manufactured and characterized. The developed films were evaluated according to their mechanical and optical properties, and their barrier to oxygen and water vapor permeation. The antimycotic activity was evaluated in vitro against fungi and yeasts. The film’s potential to act as an active packaging for Minas cheese preservation was also assessed. The incorporation of CNC increased the films’ tensile strength; however, it did not influence the barrier properties to water vapor (4.12 × 10−7 g·cm.m−1·h−1·Pa−1) and oxygen (3.64 × 10−13 g·cm·m−1·h−1·Pa−1). The incorporation of natamycin, on the other hand, resulted in films that were more opaque (around 24%) and of a yellowish color. The active nanocomposites developed showed antimicrobial effects against all analyzed fungi and yeasts (approximately 35 mm of inhibition zone) and were able to control the growth of S. cerevisiae in cheese, reducing a log cycle until the 12th day of storage. Since they performed well in vitro and on food, it was concluded that the films showed potential to be applied in Minas cheese preservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Polymers from Renewable Resources)
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2 pages, 150 KiB  
Editorial
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Polysaccharides in 2022
by Polysaccharides Editorial Office
Polysaccharides 2023, 4(1), 51-52; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4010003 - 17 Jan 2023
Viewed by 840
Abstract
High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...] Full article
18 pages, 6106 KiB  
Article
Anthocyanin-Rich Jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) Pulp Transported on Protein-Coated Ionic Gelation Microparticles of Calcium Alginate: Production and Morphological Characteristics
by Vitor Gonçalves da Silva, Gislaine Ferreira Nogueira, Cyntia Trevisan Soares and Rafael Augustus de Oliveira
Polysaccharides 2023, 4(1), 33-50; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4010002 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1838
Abstract
Jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) is a fruit rich in anthocyanins, an important group of natural pigments, with color ranging from red to blue, soluble in water, highly antioxidant. Despite its great potential for use as a natural dye, its application is a [...] Read more.
Jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) is a fruit rich in anthocyanins, an important group of natural pigments, with color ranging from red to blue, soluble in water, highly antioxidant. Despite its great potential for use as a natural dye, its application is a challenge, due to the instability of these compounds in the environmental conditions of processing and storage commonly used by the food industry. Therefore, this study evaluated the microencapsulation of anthocyanin-rich jamun pulp by ionic gelation (IG) and its protein-coating by electrostatic interaction (PC). The effect of the ratio of sodium alginate solids and jamun pulp (1:0.40 to 1:2, w/w) and the concentration of gelatin coating solution (0% to 10%, w/w) on the morphology, water and total protein content and anthocyanins content in the microparticles were evaluated. Visually, the IG particles showed color tones ranging from reddish to purplish, which became less intense and opaque after being submitted to the gelatin coating process. Microscopic images demonstrated that microparticles formed had an irregular and heterogeneous shape with disorganized gel network formation is due to the presence of solid structures of jamun pulp, observed within the microparticles. The greater the concentration of gelatin in the coating solution, the greater the protein adsorption for the formation of the protective layer, ranging from 21.82 ± 0.72% (T1) to 55.87 ± 4.23% (T6). Protein adsorption on the GI resulted in a decrease in moisture content (ranging from 87.04 ± 0.22 to 97.06 ± 0.12%) and anthocyanins contents (ranging from 5.84 ± 0.62 to 0.78 ± 0.14%) in the PC microparticles. Full article
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32 pages, 1336 KiB  
Review
Potential Biomedical Applications of Modified Pectin as a Delivery System for Bioactive Substances
by Frederick Odun-Ayo and Lalini Reddy
Polysaccharides 2023, 4(1), 1-32; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides4010001 - 01 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2702
Abstract
Pectin is a polysaccharide that has been recently gaining attention because it is renewable, inexpensive, biocompatible, degradable, non-toxic, non-polluting, and has mechanical integrity. The recent extraction techniques and modification to the structural property of pectin have led to the modified pectin whose chemical [...] Read more.
Pectin is a polysaccharide that has been recently gaining attention because it is renewable, inexpensive, biocompatible, degradable, non-toxic, non-polluting, and has mechanical integrity. The recent extraction techniques and modification to the structural property of pectin have led to the modified pectin whose chemical and surface functional groups yield galacturonic acid and galactose contents which are primarily responsible for its improved and better use in biomedical applications including drug delivery and thus producing high-value products. Major attention on modified pectin has been focused on the aspect of its bioactive functionalities that opposes cancer development. Nevertheless, modified pectin can be combined with a wide range of biopolymers with unique characteristics and activities which thus enhances its application in different areas. This has enabled the current applications of modified pectin through different approaches in addition to the prominent anti-cancer functional capabilities, which were reviewed. Furthermore, this paper highlights the potential of modified pectin as a delivery system of bioactive substances, its synergistic and prebiotic effects, gut microbiota effect and antiviral properties amongst other roles applicable in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. Full article
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