Cell Wall Matrix Research Articles

Structural barriers governing starch digestibility in intact highland barley cells: A closer insight from cell wall and protein matrix

The endosperm cell structure plays an important role in starch digestion. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the structural properties of the cell wall and protein matrix on starch digestibility in intact cells isolated from the endosperm of highland barley. Damaged cells with different degree of cell wall degradation were obtained by controlling the time of β-glucanase hydrolysis of isolated cells. Intact cells exhibited the lowest starch digestibility (61.80 %) and gelatinization enthalpy change (3.55 J/g). As the degree of β-glucanase hydrolysis increased, the starch digestibility of damaged cells markedly increased and was close to that of mechanically crushed flour. Penetration of amylase-sized fluorescent probes showed that the probes barely penetrated the raw and cooked cell walls, indicating that the cell wall strongly blocked the contact between amylase and starch. Additionally, the compound network formed by the protein matrix and expanded starch hindered probe diffusion. However, the starches in the cells with the greatest cell wall loss were fully digested after 6 h of digestion. Therefore, the cell wall, an effective structural barrier to amylase, mainly limits starch digestibility, whereas the protein matrix/network acts as a secondary barrier. This study provides new insights into the processing of slow-digested cereals.

Influence of ultrasound-assisted extraction on the pectin extraction yield and structural characteristics: A case study on carrot pomace (Daucus carota)

For the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of pectin from carrot pomace, the influence of different extraction parameters on the pectin yield and structure was studied. Therefore, an Orthogonal Minimally Aliased Response Surface (OMARS) design and a constant extraction temperature were used. This study showed that pH had the most pronounced effect on the pectin yield and molecular structure, and that a low pH is crucial to liberate pectin from the cell wall matrix. Besides, it was shown that an increased pectin yield can be achieved with an increased ultrasound intensity, provided that the pH is sufficiently low. The optimal UAE conditions resulted in a pectin yield of 57.2 %, while the control extraction, which used the same extraction conditions without the application of ultrasound waves, only resulted in a pectin yield of 37.4 %, showing a significant increase with ultrasonication. Due to the temperature-control during the ultrasonication process, this increased yield can be attributed to the ultrasound waves as such, and not to the accompanying temperature increase. Additionally, shorter extraction times can be used to obtain pectin yields comparable to a conventional acid extraction process. These increased yields and shorter extraction processes show the potential of UAE as an alternative extraction technology.

Osmotic dehydration with different agents induced pectin diversity: Physicochemical and structural properties of pectin from instant controlled pressure drop dried peach chips

Pectin as an important cell wall matrix that can be affected by osmotic dehydration (OD) pretreatment, determines the texture characteristics of dried fruit and vegetable products. This study investigated the effect of OD on the structural, thermal and rheological properties of pectin extracted from peach chips prepared by instant controlled pressure drop (DIC) drying. In detail, erythritol, glucose, and trehalose were selected as the osmotic agents (300 g/L). Pectin extracted from Ery-OD samples with a loose structure presented the highest molecular weight (432.9 kDa). The lowest content of arabinose (155.16 mg/g) and galactose (32.80 mg/g) were obtained in Glc-OD samples. With the infiltration of trehalose, the thermal stability of pectin was improved, which contributed to the uniform and complete network structure of pectin. 1H and 13C spectra analysis showed the significant alteration in pectin molecular structure induced by OD pretreatments, which affected the shear thinning behavior of pectin solution. Overall, the type of osmotic agents played a crucial role in the structural, thermal and rheological properties of pectin, which could reflect on the macro-texture characteristics of peach chips. This study would provide a theoretical basis for revealing the effect mechanism of OD on the texture of DIC fruit and vegetable chips at molecular level.

Biotehnološki procesi kot sredstvo za povečanje dostopnosti in antioksidativne aktivnosti fenolnih spojin iz zrn krušne pšenice in pire

Cereal grains, especially bran, are a rich source of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. The potential positive effects of phenolics from whole grains of spelt and bread wheat on human health are limited by the poor bioaccessibility and bioavailability of their bound phenolics. Studies have shown that biotechnological processes (germination/fermentation/enzymatic treatment) are an effective strategy for improving the release of bound phenolics from the cell wall matrix of cereal grains. In this review article, the effects of biotechnological processes on the composition, antioxidant activity and bioaccessibility of phenolics from spelt and bread wheat grains are discussed in detail. Existing research indicates the presence of a different phenolics in spelt and bread wheat grains, making whole grains excellent for improving nutritional value of products. It has been shown that biotechnological processes can effectively increase the content of bioaccessible and bioavailable phenolics in cereal grains, which enables improved in vitro antioxidant activity. Currently, there is a lack of in vivo studies to confirm the findings obtained in vitro, so in vivo studies to determine the biological activity of phenolic compounds from pre-treated grains will be crucial in the future.

In Vivo Proximity Cross-Linking and Immunoprecipitation of Cell Wall Epitopes Identify Proteins Associated with the Biosynthesis of Matrix Polysaccharides.

Identification of proteins involved in cell wall matrix polysaccharide biosynthesis is crucial to understand plant cell wall biology. We utilized in vivo cross-linking and immunoprecipitation with cell wall antibodies that recognized xyloglucan, xylan, mannan, and homogalacturonan to capture proteins associated with matrix polysaccharides in Arabidopsis protoplasts. The use of cross-linkers allowed us to capture proteins actively associated with cell wall polymers, including those directly interacting with glycans via glycan-protein (GP) cross-linkers and those associated with proteins linked to glycans via a protein-protein (PP) cross-linker. Immunoprecipitations led to the identification of 65 Arabidopsis protein IDs localized in the Golgi, ER, plasma membrane, and others without subcellular localization data. Among these, we found several glycosyltransferases directly involved in polysaccharide synthesis, along with proteins related to cell wall modification and vesicle trafficking. Protein interaction networks from DeepAraPPI and AtMAD databases showed interactions between various IDs, including those related to cell-wall-associated proteins and membrane/vesicle trafficking proteins. Gene expression and coexpression analyses supported the presence and relevance of the proteins to the cell wall processes. Reverse genetic studies using T-DNA insertion mutants of selected proteins revealed changes in cell wall composition and saccharification, further supporting their potential roles in cell wall biosynthesis. Overall, our approach represents a novel approach for studying cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis and associated proteins, providing advantages over traditional immunoprecipitation techniques. This study provides a list of putative proteins associated with different matrix polysaccharides for further investigation and highlights the complexity of cell wall biosynthesis and trafficking within plant cells.

Space electric field impacts on softening and cell wall modification of strawberry during cold storage

As an emerging non-contact cold chain preservation technology, the impact of the DENBA+ on plant cell wall metabolism and its mechanism of inhibiting softening have not been addressed. In this study, strawberries were used as an experimental model to investigate the effect of space electric field storage on cell wall metabolism. Compared with the control, 500 V DENBA+ treatment was able to reduce the firmness loss of strawberries by 18.3 % on 18 d. Additionally, the DENBA+ exhibited a pronounced ability to suppress fruit softening enzyme (FaPG1 and FaβGal4) expression, delay the rise in polygalacturonates (PG), pectin methyl esterase (PME), cellulase (Cx), and β-galactosidase (β-Gal) activities, postpone the decline in cell wall matrix (CWM), insoluble solid pectin (ISP), and colloidal soluble pectin (CSP) content along with hemicellulose and cellulose levels while attenuating water-soluble pectin (WSP) accumulation during cold storage period. These findings contribute to the maintenance of fruit cell wall structural integrity with the aim of sustaining strawberry firmness and retarding the progression of aging.

Quantitative proteomic analysis of plasma membranes from the fish pathogen Saprolegnia parasitica reveals promising targets for disease control.

The phylum Oomycota contains economically important pathogens of animals and plants, including Saprolegnia parasitica, the causal agent of the fish disease saprolegniasis. Due to intense fish farming and banning of the most effective control measures, saprolegniasis has re-emerged as a major challenge for the aquaculture industry. Oomycete cells are surrounded by a polysaccharide-rich cell wall matrix that, in addition to being essential for cell growth, also functions as a protective "armor." Consequently, the enzymes responsible for cell wall synthesis provide potential targets for disease control. Oomycete cell wall biosynthetic enzymes are predicted to be plasma membrane proteins. To identify these proteins, we applied a quantitative (iTRAQ) mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach to the plasma membrane of the hyphal cells of S. parasitica, providing the first complete plasma membrane proteome of an oomycete species. Of significance is the identification of 65 proteins enriched in detergent-resistant microdomains (DRMs). In silico analysis showed that DRM-enriched proteins are mainly involved in molecular transport and β-1,3-glucan synthesis, potentially contributing to pathogenesis. Moreover, biochemical characterization of the glycosyltransferase activity in these microdomains further supported their role in β-1,3-glucan synthesis. Altogether, the knowledge gained in this study provides a basis for developing disease control measures targeting specific plasma membrane proteins in S. parasitica.IMPORTANCEThe significance of this research lies in its potential to combat saprolegniasis, a detrimental fish disease, which has resurged due to intensive fish farming and regulatory restrictions. By targeting enzymes responsible for cell wall synthesis in Saprolegnia parasitica, this study uncovers potential avenues for disease control. Particularly noteworthy is the identification of several proteins enriched in membrane microdomains, offering insights into molecular mechanisms potentially involved in pathogenesis. Understanding the role of these proteins provides a foundation for developing targeted disease control measures. Overall, this research holds promise for safeguarding the aquaculture industry against the challenges posed by saprolegniasis.

The physicochemical characteristics and phenolic bioaccessibility of defatted millet bran powder prepared using superfine grinding

Since defatted millet bran (DMB) is considered unpalatable and its poor application performance means that it is only used as animal feed, this product is wasted and underutilized. This study altered the shapes of processed DMB particles using superfine grinding technology, physically overcoming the binding forces within the material. This reduced the particle sizes and surface roughness while increasing the tap density, peak temperature, and angles of repose and slide. Superfine grinding significantly disrupted the cell wall matrix, substantially increasing the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant properties compared to coarse and fine powders. Additionally, the superfine powder exhibited high phenolic compound bioaccessibility (vanillic, protocatechuic, syringic, ferulic, and isoferulic acid, and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic). These findings highlighted the potential use of superfine grinding technology to expand DMB application as a functional food.

Cell wall anisotropy plays a key role in Zea mays stomatal complex movement: the possible role of the cell wall matrix

The opening of the stomatal pore in Zea mays is accomplished by the lateral displacement of the central canals of the dumbbell-shaped guard cells (GCs) towards their adjacent deflating subsidiary cells that retreat locally. During this process, the central canals swell, and their cell wall thickenings become thinner. The mechanical forces driving the outward displacement of the central canal are applied by the asymmetrically swollen bulbous ends of the GCs via the rigid terminal cell wall thickenings of the central canal and the polar ventral cell wall (VW) ends. During stomatal pore closure, the shrinking bulbous GC ends no longer exert the mechanical forces on the central canals, allowing them to be pushed back inwards, towards their initial position, by the now swelling subsidiary cells. During this process, the cell walls of the central canal thicken. Examination of immunolabeled specimens revealed that important cell wall matrix materials are differentially distributed across the walls of Z. mays stomatal complexes. The cell walls of the bulbous ends and of the central canal of the GCs, as well as the cell walls of the subsidiary cells were shown to be rich in methylesterified homogalacturonans (HGs) and hemicelluloses. Demethylesterified HGs were, in turn, mainly located at the terminal cell wall thickenings of the central canal, at the polar ends of the VW, at the lateral walls of the GCs and at the periclinal cell walls of the central canal. During stomatal function, a spatiotemporal change on the distribution of some of the cell wall matrix materials is observed. The participation of the above cell wall matrix polysaccharides in the well-orchestrated response of the cell wall during the reversible movements of the stomatal complexes is discussed.

RSM and ANN approach for optimization of ultrasonic assisted extraction of pumpkin seed oil and their quality assessment

The current study focuses on optimization of process parameters for ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) of pumpkin seed oil (PSO) using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN). Three parameters of UAE process, amplitude, time and solvent to seed (S:S) ratio were selected in the range of 20–40 %, 15–45 min and 2–6 mL/g respectively and optimized on the basis of responses viz. yield, total phenolic compounds (TPC), squalene content and induction time of oil. The optimum process conditions of UAE were obtained as amplitude- 34.76 %, time- 34.37 min and the S:S ratio 6 mL/g. Under these optimum conditions, the oil showed good yield 39.05 %, TPC 45.02 mg GAE/g, squalene content 447.4 mg/100 g and induction time 5.27 h. The ANN model was developed using multilayer perceptron (MLP) and trained with back propagation algorithm utilizing training data set. The results indicate that the predicted values of responses by ANN model were in good agreement with the experimental values than the RSM model. The UAE-PSO showed better retention of bioactive compounds along with far better oil stability as compared to SE-PSO. The Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the random porous pores and rupture cell wall matrix in UAE treated seed powder.

New insight into cell wall pore structure in brown-rotted wood and its utilization as a new low-cost, sustainable adsorbent

Brown-rotted wood is a substantial agroforestry waste produced by the economic fungal cultivation industry, which lacks further utilization. This study evaluated the degradation process and structural properties of brown-rotted wood (spruce and masson pine) obtained from different decay times (0, 4, 6, 10, and 14 weeks) from the perspective of pore structure. The adsorption performance and application potential of the brown-rotted wood for methylene blue (MB) were analyzed based on its structure and properties. The results showed that hemicellulose and cellulose were significantly degraded by brown-rot fungi, disrupting the compact structure of the cell wall and creating pores, especially in earlywood. In the initial stage (4 weeks), the degradation of the amorphous component increased the pore proportion of 5–10 nm size, which was conducive to enzymatic hydrolysis by improving the enzyme’s diffusion in the cell walls. The nitrogen adsorption analysis showed that the specific surface area and pore volume of the brown-rotted wood increased with decay processing. The surface areas of the brown-rotted wood were the largest at 14 weeks, which were 35.83 cm2/g (brown-rotted spruce) and 32.98 cm2/g (brown-rotted pine), respectively. The increase in the surface areas of the brown-rotted wood provided more space for adsorbing MB, of which, the adsorption capacity reached 48.22 mg/g and 44.58 mg/g, twice higher than the sound wood. The exploration of the interaction between cell wall matrix degradation and pore structure development provided new insight to elucidate the degradation mechanism of brown-rotted wood, and a vital basis for improving the adsorption efficiency of the brown-rotted wood as a new low-cost, sustainable adsorbent.

A Critical Analysis of Postbiotics: Exploring their Potential Impact on the Health and Food Industries

Postbiotics are an emerging field in gut and gastroenterological research. Despite it being a vast field, limited scientific research has been conducted on this topic. Postbiotics are functional bioactive compounds generated in the cell wall matrix during fermentation that may be used to promote health. Postbiotics play a critical role in human immune development against communicable and noncommunicable diseases. This review focuses on the recent advances and future perspectives of postbiotics in health and food science. The review also discussed the criteria and different types of postbiotics and elucidated the significance of postbiotics. The paper further reviewed the role of postbiotics as preservatives, active ingredients in packaging systems, anti-biofilm agents, and decontaminant agents in food processing industries.

Comparison of Halophyte and Glycophyte Plants from the Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiaceae Family in Their Ion-Exchange Properties of Polymeric Matrix of Cell Walls

Ion-exchanging properties of the polymeric matrix of the cell walls isolated from leaves were examined. The glycophyte 55-day-old plants of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L., cv. Matador) grown on a nutrient solution containing 0.5, 150, or 250 mM NaCl and the halophyte seepweed (Suaeda altissima (L.) Pall.) of the same age grown at 0.5, 250, or 750 mM NaCl were compared. The ion-exchange capacity of the cell walls was estimated at different pH and ionic strength of a solution. In the structure of the leaf cell walls, three types of cation-exchange groups were found, namely, two types of carboxylic groups (one of them belongs to galacturonic acid residue) and phenolic OH-groups. The quantities of the groups of each type and their ionization constants were determined. The qualitative composition of the ion-exchange groups in the leaf cell walls was found to be uniform in both plant species regardless of their nutrition. However, the quantity of the carboxylic groups of galacturonic acid depended on the ambient salt concentration in a different manner in the glycophyte and halophyte. This change in the composition of functional groups of cell wall polymers was more pronounced in the halophyte and is apparently one of the responses of these plants to salinization. The sharp increase in the NaCl concentration in the medium leads to a decrease in pH in the extracellular water space due to ion-exchange reactions between sodium ions coming from the external medium and protons of the ionized carboxylic groups of the cell walls. The results are discussed in the aspect of participation of the leaf cell walls in plant responses to salinization.

Analysis of the apoplast fluid proteome during the induction of systemic acquired resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plant-pathogen interactions occur in the apoplast comprising the cell wall matrix and the fluid in the extracellular space outside the plasma membrane. However, little is known regarding the contribution of the apoplastic proteome to systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Specifically, SAR was induced by inoculating plants with Pst DC3000 avrRps4. The apoplast washing fluid (AWF) was collected from the systemic leaves of the SAR-induced or mock-treated plants. A label free quantitative proteomic analysis was performed to identified the proteins related to SAR in AWF. A total of 117 proteins were designated as differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs), including numerous pathogenesis-related proteins, kinases, glycosyl hydrolases, and redox-related proteins. Functional enrichment analyses shown that these DAPs were mainly enriched in carbohydrate metabolic process, cell wall organization, hydrogen peroxide catabolic process, and positive regulation of catalytic activity. Comparative analysis of proteome data indicated that these DAPs were selectively enriched in the apoplast during the induction of SAR. The findings of this study indicate the apoplastic proteome is involved in SAR. The data presented herein may be useful for future investigations on the molecular mechanism mediating the establishment of SAR.

Xylan clustering on the pollen surface is required for exine patterning.

Xylan is a crosslinking polymer that plays an important role in the assembly of heterogeneous cell wall structures in plants. The pollen wall, a specialized cell wall matrix, exhibits diverse sculpted patterns that serve to protect male gametophytes and facilitate pollination during plant reproduction. However, whether xylan is precisely anchored into clusters and its influence on pollen wall patterning remain unclear. Here, we report xylan clustering on the mature pollen surface in different plant species that is indispensable for the formation of sculpted exine patterns in dicot and monocot plants. Chemical composition analyses revealed that xylan is generally present at low abundance in the mature pollen of flowering plants and shows plentiful variations in terms of substitutions and modifications. Consistent with the expression profiles of their encoding genes, genetic characterization revealed IRREGULAR XYLEM10-LIKE (IRX10L) and its homologous proteins in the GT47 family of glycosyltransferases as key players in the formation of these xylan micro-/nano-compartments on the pollen surface in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa). A deficiency in xylan biosynthesis abolished exine patterning on pollen and compromised male fertility. Therefore, our study outlines a mechanism of exine patterning and provides a tool for manipulating male fertility in crop breeding.

Evaluation of the colour parameters on hygroscopicity and dimensional stability of thermally modified Populus tomentosa Carr.

The water vapour sorption and viscoelastic characteristic of thermally modified poplar wood (Populus tomentosa Carr.) based upon colour changes were studied to provide insights into the changes in hygroscopicity and dimensional stability properties by using dynamic vapour sorption (DVS) and dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA). The thermal treatments at 180, 200, and 220 ℃ for 2, 4, 6, 8, and/or 10 h under air atmosphere were applied to cause the component degradation and crosslinking reactions within the cell wall. As the thermal treatment temperature and time increased, the lightness (L*) value of wood showed a gradual decrease. After the removal of hydroxyl groups, the hydrophobicity and dimensional stability had been significantly improved, especially at low L* value. A gauss function (R2 up to 0.99) relationship was observed between water adsorption property and L* value. Based on the analysis of the multiple sorption parameters against L* value, thermal treatment degraded the hemicellulose and reduced the moisture sorption of wood cell wall and the diffusion of water through the cell wall matrix. As the L* value declined, the trend that slow moving of side chains, increasing glass transition point temperature of hemicellulose, and more additional covalent bonds resulted in increased E″ and decreased E′ values was becoming evident. From these perspectives, it could be deduced that reduced water diffusion and high polymer stiffness confined expansion of the cell wall to endow thermally modified wood with improved hydrophilicity and dimensional stability.

Comparison of Halophyte and Glycophyte Plants from the Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiaceae Family in Their Ion-Exchange Properties of Polymeric Matrix of Cell Walls

Comparison of Halophyte and Glycophyte Plants from the Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiaceae Family in Their Ion-Exchange Properties of Polymeric Matrix of Cell Walls

Mesostructural changes in cellulose within wood cell wall upon hydrothermal treatment at 200 °C

Hydrothermal treatment between 150 °C and 230 °C is widely used in wood processing, from the steam treatment of timber for better dimensional stability and durability to the pretreatment for enzymatic saccharification and chemical pulping. Understanding the ultrastructural changes of wood cell walls through hydrothermal treatments is crucial for controlling and optimizing these hydrothermal treatment-based processes. Here, we studied the ultrastructure of wood cell walls of 24 hardwood species using simultaneous small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements before and after the hydrothermal treatment at 200 °C. Most hardwoods show similar equatorial scattering features, representing the structure in the cross-section of the cell walls. In a water-saturated native state, there is a prominent correlation peak between 0.1 and 0.2 Å−1 and a second peak between 0.2 and 0.4 Å−1. The hydrothermal treatment above 160 ˚C drastically altered the structure at this nanometric scale: the two native correlation peaks disappeared, coincident with a buildup of a correlation peak in the 0.03–0.04 Å−1 range. The hydrothermal treatment likely removed the cell wall matrix component between the microfibrils through autohydrolysis and phase separation, leading to the collapse of microfibrils with each other in the normal wood. In cellulose-rich cell walls, such as the G-layer in tension wood, cellulose microfibrils are already collated in the native state.

A modified strategy to improve the dissolution of flavonoids from Artemisiae Argyi Folium using ultrasonic-assisted enzyme-deep eutectic solvent system

In this study, enzyme-deep eutectic solvent-assisted ultrasonic extraction technique (EnDUE) was developed for the efficient dissolution of flavonoids from Artemisiae Argyi Folium. The extraction results of Artemisiae Argyi Folium flavonoids (quercetin, luteolin, and isorhamnetin) were used as indicators to investigate the influencing factors through single factor experiment, Placket-burman design, and Box-behnken design, so as to obtain satisfactory yields. After systematic optimization, the optimal conditions for extraction of the target flavonoids were: Choline chloride/1,4-butanediol with a water content of 25%, cellulase+pectinase with a concentration of 1.6%, solid-liquid ratio of 1/32 g/mL, pH of 4.2, ultrasonic frequency of 80 kHz, ultrasonic power of 160 W, ultrasonic temperature of 40 °C, and ultrasonic time of 25 min, respectively, which derived a total yield of 8.06 ± 0.29 mg/g. Compared with the reference techniques, the proposed EnDUE technique showed significant advantages in the yield and extraction efficiency of flavonoids. In addition, after preliminary purification, the Artemisiae Argyi Folium flavonoids showed good antioxidant activity. Deep eutectic solvent (DES) can degrade the cell wall components and increase the action site of enzyme, and enzyme can promote the penetration of DES into the cell wall matrix, which is mutually beneficial to the dissolution of intracellular components. Therefore, the extraction technique proposed in this work (EnDUE) greatly promotes the dissolution of flavonoids from Artemisiae Argyi Folium, and provides theoretical support for the further application of plant flavonoids.

Novel Fucoidan Pharmaceutical Formulations and Their Potential Application in Oncology-A Review.

Fucoidan belongs to the family of marine sulfated, L-fucose-rich polysaccharides found in the cell wall matrix of various brown algae species. In the last few years, sulfated polysaccharides have attracted the attention of researchers due to their broad biological activities such as anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, anticancer and antiproliferative effects. Recently the application of fucoidan in the field of pharmaceutical technology has been widely investigated. Due to its low toxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability, fucoidan plays an important role as a drug carrier for the formulation of various drug delivery systems, especially as a biopolymer with anticancer activity, used for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics in oncology. Furthermore, the presence of sulfate residues with negative charge in its structure enables fucoidan to form ionic complexes with oppositely charged molecules, providing relatively easy structure-forming properties in combination with other polymers. The aim of the present study was to overview essential fucoidan characteristics, related to its application in the development of pharmaceutical formulations as a single drug carrier or in combinations with other polymers. Special focus was placed on micro- and nanosized drug delivery systems with polysaccharides and their application in the field of oncology.