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Applied Sciences
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Modification of Natural Polysaccharides for Valuable Functions
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Modification of Natural Polysaccharides for Valuable Functions

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical and Molecular Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2018) | Viewed by 22135

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jian-Yong Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: bioprocess engineering; technology with medicinal fungi and plant tissue cultures; food science and engineering; functional foods; ultrasound-assisted extraction and processing of food and medicinal products

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polysaccharides from plants, higher fungi, microorganisms and other biological sources have been widely explored for nutraceutical and therapeutic applications owing to their broad range of bioactivities and health benefits. Another important area of application with polysaccharides is the development of functional and biomedical materials, such as controlled release and targeted delivery of drugs. Since original or native structures of natural polysaccharides are not suitable or optimal for desired functions, various strategies and methods have been attempted to modify the structuralal features to improve the functionality and to derive new and more valuable functions. This Special Issue aims to cover the following themes:

  • Modification of natural polysaccharide structures using chemical, physical, enzymatic and other effective methods for the improvement of nutraceutical and for therapeutic functions.
  • Development of novel and more valuable functions, especially for the improvement of human health.
  • Original research studies on novel and effective approaches and products, and the structure–function relationships.
  • Critical, insightful and contemporary reviews (within recent two decades) to reflect the state-of-the-art development in the related topic areas.

Dr. Jian-Yong Wu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polysaccharide
  • structure modification
  • bioactivity
  • nutraceuticals
  • functional materials
  • structure–function relationships
  • nano-drug carriers

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 5274 KiB  
Article
Effects of Ultrasonication on the Conformational, Microstructural, and Antioxidant Properties of Konjac Glucomannan
by Jun-Yi Yin, Lu-Yao Ma, Ka-Chai Siu and Jian-Yong Wu
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(3), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9030461 - 29 Jan 2019
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3780
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the effects of ultrasonication (US) on the conformational, microstructural, and antioxidant properties of konjac glucomannan (KGM). US treatment with a 20-kHz and 750-W ultrasonic processor at 60% amplitude was applied for partial degradation of KGM with an average [...] Read more.
This study aims to evaluate the effects of ultrasonication (US) on the conformational, microstructural, and antioxidant properties of konjac glucomannan (KGM). US treatment with a 20-kHz and 750-W ultrasonic processor at 60% amplitude was applied for partial degradation of KGM with an average molecular weight (MW) of 823.4 kDa. Results indicated that the US treatment caused dramatic reduction in the MW, apparent viscosity, hydrodynamic radius, and z-average mean radius of gyration. The flexibility of chain conformation of native KGM was slightly increased during the US treatment. According to electronic microscopic imaging, the compact, smooth, and orderly fibrous strings formed by KGM were changed to amorphous, porous flakes and globular particles after US treatment. KGM and its US-treated fractions showed moderate radical-scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant activity. US degradation of KGM affected these activities either positively or negatively, depending on the US treatment period. In summary, ultrasonic degradation of KGM caused changes in its conformation characteristics, microstructure, and antioxidant activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modification of Natural Polysaccharides for Valuable Functions)
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Review

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33 pages, 4733 KiB  
Review
Modification of Chitosan for the Generation of Functional Derivatives
by Clément Brasselet, Guillaume Pierre, Pascal Dubessay, Marguerite Dols-Lafargue, Joana Coulon, Julie Maupeu, Amélie Vallet-Courbin, Hélène de Baynast, Thierry Doco, Philippe Michaud and Cédric Delattre
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(7), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9071321 - 29 Mar 2019
Cited by 96 | Viewed by 9638
Abstract
Today, chitosan (CS) is probably considered as a biofunctional polysaccharide with the most notable growth and potential for applications in various fields. The progress in chitin chemistry and the need to replace additives and non-natural polymers with functional natural-based polymers have opened many [...] Read more.
Today, chitosan (CS) is probably considered as a biofunctional polysaccharide with the most notable growth and potential for applications in various fields. The progress in chitin chemistry and the need to replace additives and non-natural polymers with functional natural-based polymers have opened many new opportunities for CS and its derivatives. Thanks to the specific reactive groups of CS and easy chemical modifications, a wide range of physico-chemical and biological properties can be obtained from this ubiquitous polysaccharide that is composed of β-(1,4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose repeating units. This review is presented to share insights into multiple native/modified CSs and chitooligosaccharides (COS) associated with their functional properties. An overview will be given on bioadhesive applications, antimicrobial activities, adsorption, and chelation in the wine industry, as well as developments in medical fields or biodegradability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modification of Natural Polysaccharides for Valuable Functions)
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15 pages, 596 KiB  
Review
Extraction, Structure, and Pharmacological Activities of Astragalus Polysaccharides
by Jia Wang, Junying Jia, Li Song, Xue Gong, Jianping Xu, Min Yang and Minhui Li
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(1), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9010122 - 31 Dec 2018
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 8256
Abstract
The Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) are important bioactive components of Astragali Radix, the dry root of Astragalus membranaceus, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this review, the extraction conditions and extraction rates of APS are first compared for water, microwave-assisted, [...] Read more.
The Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) are important bioactive components of Astragali Radix, the dry root of Astragalus membranaceus, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this review, the extraction conditions and extraction rates of APS are first compared for water, microwave-assisted, ultrasonic wave, and enzymatic hydrolysis extraction methods. Some studies have also shown that different methods can be combined to improve the extraction rate of APS. Subsequently, the chemical composition and structure of APS are discussed, as related to the extraction and purification method. Most studies have shown that APS is mainly composed of glucose, in addition to rhamnose, galactose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucuronic acid, and galacturonic acid. We also reviewed studies on the modification of APS using chemical methods, including sulfated modification using the chlorosulfonic acid–pyridine method, which is commonly used for chemical modification of APS. Finally, the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action of APS are summarized, with a special focus on its immunoregulatory, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. This review will serve as a valuable resource for the research on APS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modification of Natural Polysaccharides for Valuable Functions)
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