Gum Polysaccharide Research Articles

Exploring the potential of peach gum polysaccharides in β-carotene emulsions encapsulation during storage

Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions have emerged as a viable method for encapsulating β-carotene. To achieve stable emulsion systems, the development of latent emulsifiers is essential. This study collected three peach cultivars (Mixture cultivar (MC), Zhonghpan 11# (ZP11), and Yingqing (YQG)) to extract peach gum polysaccharides (PGP) for the encapsulation of β-carotene without the need for additional emulsifiers. The research aimed to investigate the emulsions' physicochemical stability (including particle size, zeta potential, turbidity, color, and retention rate of β-carotene (RR)) during storage. The findings revealed that the ZP11 emulsion exhibited the highest emulsion efficiency (EE) at 89.08% and displayed a more vibrant color. After 35 days of storage, YQG emulsion exhibited better emulsion stability with the highest zeta-potential (>35 mV, negative), RR of β-carotene (43.44%), and longest half-life period (t1/2, 32.31d) among three cultivars. Correlation analysis showed that molecular weight (Mw), polydispersity coefficient (Mw/Mn), and arabinose (Ara) of PGP would have an influence on its emulsifying capacity and stability of β-carotene emulsion. The information was significant for PGP of great potential as an emulsifier and stabilizer to provide possibility regarding designing a proper delivery system.

Biomass Hydrogel Electrolytes toward Green and Durable Supercapacitors: Enhancing Flame Retardancy, Low-Temperature Self-Healing, Self-Adhesion, and Long-Term Cycling Stability.

Hydrogels have shown promise as quasi-solid-state electrolytes for flexible supercapacitors but face challenges such as poor self-repair, unstable electrode adhesion, limited temperature range, and flammability. Herein, an all-round green hydrogel electrolyte (silk nanofibers (SNFs)/peach gum polysaccharide (PGP)/borax/glycerol (SPBG)-ZnSO4) addresses these issues through dynamic cross-linking of peach gum polysaccharide and silk nanofibers with borax, integrating varieties of key property including high water retention, broad temperature tolerance (-20 to 90 °C), excellent self-adhesion (60.7 kPa for carbon cloth electrodes), satisfactory flame retardancy (limited oxygen index of 51%), low-temperature self-healing (-20 °C), and good ionic conductivity (7.68 mS cm-1). The resulting supercapacitor exhibits excellent cycling stability with 98.2% capacitance retention after 40,000 long cycles at 25 °C. The specific capacitance retention remains above 90% even after 15,000 cycles at high/low temperatures (50 °C/-20 °C). Furthermore, the flexible supercapacitor demonstrates stable performance under mechanical stimuli (180° bending and perforation), highlighting the potential of biomass hydrogels in flexible energy storage devices.

Natural Regenerative Hydrogels for Wound Healing.

Regenerative hydrogels from natural polymers have come forth as auspicious materials for use in regenerative medicine, with interest attributed to their intrinsic biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ability to reassemble the extracellular matrix. This review covers the latest advances in regenerative hydrogels used for wound healing, focusing on their chemical composition, cross-linking mechanisms, and functional properties. Key carbohydrate polymers, including alginate, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and polysaccharide gums, including agarose, carrageenan, and xanthan gum, are discussed in terms of their sources, chemical structures and specific properties suitable for regenerative applications. The review further explores the categorization of hydrogels based on ionic charge, response to physiological stimuli (i.e., pH, temperature) and particularized roles in wound tissue self-healing. Various methods of cross-linking used to enhance the mechanical and biological performance of these hydrogels are also examined. By highlighting recent innovations and ongoing challenges, this article intends to give a detailed understanding of natural hydrogels and their potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine and improve patient healing outcomes.

Removal of lead and cadmium from aqueous solution by using cashew gum polysaccharide (Arabinogalactan) - Acrylamide hydrogel

There is an increasing need for clean water for human health and the environment, so the removal of toxic metals from wastewater with low-cost adsorbents plays an essential role. In this research, the synthesis of cashew gum (CG) polysaccharide (arabinogalactan)-acrylamide (Am) (CG-AM) hydrogel was carried out with three independent variables: Hydration ratio (ml/g), amount of monomer (acrylamide, Am) (g) and concentration of crosslinker (methylene-bisacrylamide, MBA) (%) by radical polymerisation. The removal efficiency of Pb2+ and Cd2+ from the stock solution of lead nitrate and cadmium sulphate by adsorption technique was also studied by optimisation using BBD of RSM. Furthermore, the functional and structural properties of all types of hydrogels were analysed by characterisation with FTIR, (XRD), (SEM) with EDS and swelling capacity analysis. An optimum hydrogel yield of 4.527 g was obtained at a hydration ratio of 10 ml/g, monomer amount of 2.5 g and crosslinker concentration of 3% w/v of one gram of extracted arabinogalactan. For Pb2+ removal, 86.985 % removal efficiency was obtained at a hydration ratio of 25 ml/g, monomer amount of 1g and crosslinker concentration of 1%, while for Cd2+ removal, 18.875 % removal efficiency was obtained at a hydration ratio of 10 ml/g, monomer amount of 4g and crosslinker concentration of 2%. (CG-AM)H Pb2+ had the highest swelling capacity of 11.072 g H2O/g polymer hydrogel but (CG-AM)H had the lowest of 5.322 g H2O/g polymer hydrogel due to crosslinking capacity. The FTIR result, the (CG-AM)H Pb2+ showed a significant peak of C-O stretching of the S-glycosidic bond of hydrogel to absorb the Pb2+ ions. From XRD and SEM results, (CG-AM)H Pb2+ showed an amorphous nature of hygroscopic properties and a three-dimensional network structure with open pores.

Hierarchical porous structure design and water activation in hydrogels containing hyperbranched peach gum polysaccharide for efficient solar water evaporation

Solar-powered interfacial evaporation is a developing and sustainable technique increasingly utilized in desalination and wastewater purification. This technology involves the creation of cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/polylactic acid (PLA) composite aerogels through the Pickering emulsion approach. Self-floating aero-hydrogel (E-VGP) with a hierarchical porous structure was formed on a viscous mixture containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), peach gum polysaccharide (PGP), and polypyrrole (PPy) via an in-situ polymerization process. Furthermore, by modifying the hydrolysis time of PGP with a hyperbranched polyhydroxy structure, VGP hybrid hydrogels of varying microscopic molecular sizes were produced. Additionally, solar vapor generators (SVG) with diverse macroscopic structures were fabricated using molds. The V8G4-12hP0.2 hybrid hydrogel, synthesized using PGP hydrolyzed for 12 h, exhibited an evaporation enthalpy of water at 1204 J g−1. This capacity effectively activates water and enables low enthalpy evaporation. Conversely, the macrostructural design allows the cylindrical rod raised sundial-shaped structure of SVG3 to possess an expanded evaporation area, minimize energy loss, and even harness additional energy from its nonradiative side. Consequently, this micro-macrostructural design enables SVG3 to attain an exceptionally high evaporation rate of 3.13 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 Sun exposure. Moreover, SVG3 demonstrates robust water purification abilities, suggesting significant potential for application in both desalination and industrial wastewater treatment.

Production and characterisation of antioxidant and antibacterial polymeric nanoparticles loaded with Oenocarpus bataua phenolic extract

SummaryOne recent trend in the food industry is using natural antioxidants and antimicrobials as additives for developing multi‐functional packaging. In this study, phenolic compounds from patawa (PEP), a neglected Amazon palm tree, were extracted and encapsulated in nanoparticles based on acetylated cashew gum polysaccharide (acCGP) and chitosan (CS) using a nanoprecipitation technique. The primary objective was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and antibacterial properties of PEP and acCGP/CS@PEP. Results from HPLC‐MS showed that PEP is mainly composed of epicatechin, naringenin and rutin. acCGP/CS@PEP nanoparticles showed a spheric and smooth microstructure, observed with 40.1% PEP encapsulation into the nanoparticles. The main encapsulated phenolics were luteolin, quercetin and epicatechin. Also, FTIR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses evidenced the success of PEP encapsulation. Results from antioxidant activity evidenced that acCGP/CS@PEP has a DPPH scavenging activity 45‐fold higher than the unencapsulated PEP, a 5‐fold higher ferric reducing power and 20‐fold higher antioxidant potential against ABTS. Similarly, acCGP/CS@PEP had higher antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (MIC = 2.24 mg mL−1), Salmonella enteritis (MIC = 4.48 mg mL−1) and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 4.48 mg mL−1). Analysis by SEM evidenced that acCGP/CS@PEP had a potent destructive effect with disruption of the bacterial cell membrane and liberation of cytoplasmic content. These findings demonstrated that PEP could be efficiently encapsulated in acCGP/CS nanoparticles, and this strategy could improve the efficiency of PEP as a bioactive compound for developing active packaging.

Synthesis and Characterization of Janus fenugreek Seed Gum-based Film for Food Packaging and Wound Dressing Applications

The use of plant-derived natural gum polysaccharides in food packaging and biomedicine is growing due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, film-forming ability, abundant functional groups, and potential for chemical or physical modification to develop novel materials. In this study, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed gum (FSG)-based Janus films with glycerol (GLY) as a plasticizer in varying concentrations (2%, 5%, 7%, and 10% w/w) were synthesized for potential food packaging and biomedical applications. The glycerol concentration significantly affected the stability, microstructure, moisture content, and solubility of the film, with 5% GLY yielding the most stable films. The water solubility was gradually increased with increasing the GLY content in the film sample. The film exhibited strong radical scavenging activity against DPPH assays, with an IC50 value of 158.73±0.013 µg/mL. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the film were found to be 88.21±0.012 mg/g in gallic acid equivalents (GAE) and 9.36±0.018 mg/g in quercetin equivalents (QE), respectively. The pristine FSG film exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and the fungal strain Candida albicans, which was significantly enhanced by incorporating the antibacterial drug penicillin. Additionally, we examined the impact of different films on chicken meat and cheese by monitoring changes in weight loss, color, pH, total aerobic mesophilic counts (TAMC), and psychrotrophic bacterial counts (PBC) during storage. Our results demonstrated that the samples packaged with pristine FSG film exhibited significantly lower TAMC and PBC values and slowed down the increase in pH values compared to the control samples, which further decreased by incorporating antimicrobial drug. These findings indicated that the Janus pristine FSG film is suitable for food packaging. Further, antimicrobial drugs incorporated into FSG film could be potential candidates for wound dressing applications.

Fabrication of bacterial derived natural polysaccharide-based copolymer network hydrogels for use in drug delivery applications

Researchers are currently exploring polysaccharide gums extensively to develop materials for biomedical applications. Herein, the bacterial-derived natural polysaccharide xanthan gum (XG) was utilized to develop copolymer network hydrogels to use in drug delivery (DD) applications for sustainable development. These copolymers were synthesized by grafting METAC onto XG and characterized by FE-SEM, EDX, AFM, FTIR, XRD, 13C NMR, DSC, and TGA-DTG techniques. These hydrogels were encapsulated with the anticancer drug dacarbazine. The diffusion of dacarbazine from the hydrogels exhibited a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism, and the release profile was most appropriately explained by a zero-order kinetic model. In addition, network hydrogels illustrated their superabsorbent nature by absorbing about 15 g of fluid per gram of polymer sample. The materials revealed antioxidant activity in the DPPH scavenging method. Findings of the physicochemical, drug delivery, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of copolymers revealed their suitability for use in DD applications.

A 3D self-floating solar vapor generator based on a novel self-healing aero-hydrogel containing peach gum polysaccharide with durability and continuous operation

Solar energy interfacial evaporation represents a promising and sustainable approach with considerable potential for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. Nonetheless, creating durable evaporators for continuous operation presents a challenge. Motivated by natural self-healing mechanisms, this study developed a novel 3D hybrid aero-hydrogel, which exhibited a self-healing efficiency of 89.4 % and an elongation at break post-healing of 637.7 %, featuring self-healing capabilities and continuous operation potential. Especially, the incorporation of hyperbranched water-soluble polymers (peach gum polysaccharide) endow the final solar water evaporators with a lower evaporation enthalpy of water, resulting in that the refined SVG3, with a notable water surface architecture and an expanded evaporation area, achieved a steam generation rate of 2.13 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 Sun. Notably, SVG2 achieved a high evaporation rate of 2.43 kg m−2 h−1 with the combined energy input of 1 Sun and 6 V, significantly surpassing the rate of 1.96 kg m−2 h−1 without voltage input. The results indicate that electrical energy significantly enhances and synergizes with SVG, facilitating continuous operation both day and night through the combined use of solar energy and electrical input. This study offers insightful perspectives for the strategic design of multifunctional hydrogels for solar water evaporation.

Peach Gum Polysaccharide as an Additive for Thermoplastic Starch to Produce Water-Soluble Films

Thermoplastic starch (TPS) has gained considerable attention during the last few years in developing starch-based biodegradable food packaging materials or edible coatings due to its high availability and low cost. TPS is manufactured from starch plasticized with food-grade plasticizers, making it suitable for food contact applications. In addition, TPS is bio-based and biodegradable, which, from an environmental perspective, closes the circle of the circular economy. However, the industrial application of TPS is somewhat limited due to its poor mechanical performance and low water resistance. However, the low water resistance could increase the water sensitivity of TPS, which could be advantageous for coating application or food encapsulation. The present work aims to tailor the water sensitivity of TPS by adding peach gum polysaccharide to obtain water-soluble films. With this aim, peach gum polysaccharide (PGP) was extracted from peach gum (PG) using the thermal hydrolysis method. Films of TPS-PG and TPS-PGP were prepared and characterized by their water sensitivity and mechanical, microstructural, and thermal properties. The results show that PGP allows the obtaining of films with water sensitivities higher than 70% but also improves TPS elongation at break, making the material more suitable for application as film.

Optimization of antimicrobial nanocomposite films based on carboxymethyl cellulose incorporating chitosan nanofibers and Guggul gum polysaccharide

The present study utilized response surface methodology (RSM) to investigate the impact of varying concentrations of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC: 0.75–1.75 wt%), Commiphora mukul polysaccharide (CMP: 0–1 wt%), and Chitosan Nanofiber (CHNF: 0–1 wt%) on the physical and antimicrobial characteristics of nanocomposite films based on CMC. The optimization process aimed to enhance ultimate tensile strength (UTS), strain at break (SAB), and antibacterial activity, while minimizing water vapor permeability (WVP), solubility, swelling, moisture content, opacity, and total color difference (ΔE). The results revealed that both CMP and CHNF had a positive influence on reducing moisture content, WVP, and increasing UTS. However, higher concentrations of CMP and CHNF had a divergent effect on SAB, ΔE, and swelling. The incorporation of CMP led to increased opacity and solubility, while the inclusion of CHNF resulted in decreased opacity and solubility. Notably, only CHNF addition significantly improved the antibacterial properties of the films. By applying the optimization procedure utilizing RSM, the formulation containing CMC (1.5 wt%), CMP (0.25 wt%), and CHNF (0.75 wt%) demonstrated superior physical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties in the biodegradable film matrix. These findings highlight the potential of utilizing these components to enhance the performance of CMC-based nanocomposite films.

The physicochemical stability and in vivo gastrointestinal fates of flaxseed oil bodies with the introduction of soluble flaxseed gum polysaccharides

The natural oil bodies (OBs) were considered minimally processed entities for delivering bioactive lipids and minor lipid concomitants, such as α-linolenic acid (ALA), tocopherols, etc. when incorporated into food systems. The current study investigated the physicochemical stability and in vivo gastrointestinal digestion of flaxseed OBs with the introduction of soluble flaxseed gum polysaccharides (SFG), which always consistently coexisted in flaxseed milk. The results showed that the particle sizes of flaxseed OB emulsions consistently decreased by 37.46% (p < 0.05), while the zeta potential values gradually increased by 60.91% (p < 0.05) as the SFG concentrations raised from 0.1% to 0.5% (wt %). SFG improved the physical stability of flaxseed OB emulsions by preventing bridging flocculation among adjacent OBs, and achieving the movement restriction of single OBs via the direct interface anchoring and network structure formation in bulk aqueous phase. SFG apparently suppressed the gastrointestinal lipolysis rate of flaxseed OBs due to the complex coacervation with intrinsic interfacial proteins, subsequent deep encapsulation and gastric emptying delaying of OB remnants. Then, the slower micellar absorption and chylomicron transport within rat enterocytes were occurred, contributing to the suppressed ALA accumulation and subsequent conversion into n-3 long chain fatty acids in rat upper jejunum. Collectively, the introduction of SFG in flaxseed OBs at high concentration allows lower intestinal ALA bioaccessibility.

Effect of pH on the emulsifying performance of protein-polysaccharide complexes.

Protein-polysaccharide complexes have been successfully used for emulsion stabilization. However, it is unclear how the complex's surface charge influences aggregation stability and coalescence stability of emulsions, and whether a low charged interfacial film can still maintain the coalescence stability of oil droplets. In the present study, the effects of pH (around the pI of protein) on the aggregation and coalescence stability of emulsions were investigated. Whey protein isolate (WPI) and peach gum polysaccharides (PGP) complexes (WPI-PGP complexes) were synthesized at pH 3, 4 and 5. Their sizes were 598, 274 and 183 nm, respectively, and their ζ-potentials were +2.9, -8.6 and -22.8 mV, respectively. Interface rheological experiments showed that WPI-PGP complex at pH 3 had the lowest interfacial tension, and formed the softest film compared to the complexes at pH 4 and 5. Microfluidic experiments showed that all WPI-PGP complexes were able to stabilize droplets against coalescence within short timescales (milliseconds). At pH 3, no coalescence was observed even under conditions where the continuous phase flow influenced the shape of oil droplets (from spheres to ellipsoids). At pH 4 and 5, the model emulsions were stable over 16 days of storage, extensive aggregation and creaming occurred at pH 3 after 8 days. Importantly, no coalescence took place. The present study confirmed that the aggregation stability of the emulsions was mainly determined by the surface charge of the complex, whereas the coalescence stability of emulsions is expectedly determined by steric repulsion, providing new insights into how to prepare stable food emulsions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Novel synthesis of trans-ferulic acid loaded tragacanth-chitosan nanoformulations and evaluation of their biological activities

Trans-ferulic acid, is one of the many biologically significant bioactive components of Datura. It has wide range of potential applications in the food industry, health, and cosmetics industries. Trans-ferulic acid possess myriad properties like anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, antiangiogenic, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. To exploit its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, first of all, trans-ferulic acid loaded tragacanth/chitosan nanoparticles (TFA loaded TGCA-NPs) were synthesized by ionic gelation method using tragacanth and chitosan as polymers. Tragacanth used to encapsulate the trans-ferulic acid is a polysaccharide gum, which is used all over the world in industries ranging from the food industry to healthcare systems due to its availability, affordability, non-toxicity, and environmental friendliness. The synthesized nanoparticles were then characterized by using techniques like FTIR, UV–Vis Spectroscopy, SEM and TEM. The particle size of nanoparticles thus obtained ranged from 105 nm to 250 nm. SEM micrograph of nanoparticles showed tiny rod-like structures, which appear to be coated on the polymer. TEM images showed somewhat sphere-shaped nanoparticles with a projecting rod-like structure that might be due to the trans-ferulic acid encapsulation in tragacanth-chitosan polymer. Decent antimicrobial activity of synthesized nanoparticles was observed against pathogenic bacteria named Staphylococcus aureus. Hemocompatibility of trans-ferulic acid loaded tragacanth-chitosan nanoparticles was also examined. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging assay, in which synthesized nanoparticles showed 41.62 % radical scavenging activity. For in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity Human Red Blood Cell membrane stabilization method (HRBC method) was used, and the results showed higher protection by the synthesized nanoparticles in comparison to the pure trans-ferulic acid and blank nanoparticles.

Carrageenan as a Potential Factor of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Carrageenan is a widely used food additive and is seen as a potential candidate in the pharmaceutical industry. However, there are two faces to carrageenan that allows it to be used positively for therapeutic purposes. Carrageenan can be used to create edible films and for encapsulating drugs, and there is also interest in the use of carrageenan for food printing. Carrageenan is a naturally occurring polysaccharide gum. Depending on the type of carrageenan, it is used in regulating the composition of intestinal microflora, including the increase in the population of Bifidobacterium bacteria. On the other hand, the studies have demonstrated the harmfulness of carrageenan in animal and human models, indicating a direct link between diet and intestinal inflammatory states. Carrageenan changes the intestinal microflora, especially Akkermansia muciniphilia, degrades the mucous barrier and breaks down the mucous barrier, causing an inflammatory reaction. It directly affects epithelial cells by activating the pro-inflammatory nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) pathway. The mechanism is based on activation of the TLR4 receptor, alterations in macrophage activity, production of proinflammatory cytokines and activation of innate immune pathways. Carrageenan increases the content of Bacteroidetes bacteria, also causing a reduction in the number of short chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria. The result is damage to the integrity of the intestinal membrane and reduction of the mucin layer. The group most exposed to the harmful effects of carrageenan are people suffering from intestinal inflammation, including Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

The impact of ultrasonic-assisted extraction on the in vitro hypoglycemic activity of peach gum polysaccharide in relation to its conformational conversion.

Peach gum (PG) is an exudate of the peach tree (Prunus persica of the Rosaceae family), which consists primarily of polysaccharides with a large molecular weight and branching structure. Consequently, PG can only swell in water and does not dissolve easily, which severely limits its application. Current conventional extraction methods for PG polysaccharide (PGPS) are time consuming and inefficient. This study investigated the impact of ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) on PGPS structure and conformation, and their relationship to hypoglycemic activity in vitro. In comparison with conventional aqueous extraction, UAE enhanced PGPS yielded from 28.07-32.83% to 80.37-84.90% (w/w) in 2 h. It drastically decreased the molecular size and conformational parameters of PGPS, including weight-average molecular weight (Mw), number-average molecular weight (Mn), z-average radius of gyration (Rg), hydrodynamic radius (Rh) and instrinsic viscosity ([η]) values. Peach gum polysaccharide conformation converted extended molecules to flexible random coil chains or compact spheres with no obvious primary structure alteration. Furthermore, UAE altered the flow behavior of PGPS solution from that of a non-Newtonian fluid to that of a Newtonian fluid. As a result, PGPS treated with UAE displayed weaker inhibitory activity than untreated PGPS, mostly because UAE weakens the binding strength of PGPS to α-glucosidase. However, this negative effect of UAE on PGPS activity was compensated by the increased solubility of polysaccharide. This enabled PGPS to achieve a wider range of doses. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction is capable of degrading PGPS efficiently while preserving its primary structure, resulting in a Newtonian fluid solution. The degraded PGPS conformations displayed a consistent correlation with their inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase activity. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Understanding the two-stage degradation process of peach gum polysaccharide within ultrasonic field

This study investigated the dynamic degradation process of peach gum polysaccharide (PGPS) within ultrasonic field. The results show that the molecular weight, intrinsic viscosity, and polydispersity of PGPS were rapidly reduced within the initial 30 min and then gradually decreased. The solubility of PGPS was drastically improved from 3.0% to 40.0–42.0% (w/w) after 120 min. The conformation of PGPS changed from an extended chain to a flexible random coil within initial time of ultrasound, and gradually tended to be compact spheres. The apparent viscosity of PGPS significantly decreased after 30 min, and PGPS solution exhibited a near-Newtonian fluid behavior. It is possible that these above changes are a result of random cleavage of the decrosslinking and the backbone of PGPS, resulting in the preservation of its primary structure. The results will provide a fundamental basis for orientation design and process control of ultrasonic degradation of PGPS.

Effects of complex polysaccharides by Ficus carica Linn. polysaccharide and peach gum on the development and metabolites of human gut microbiota

Both Ficus carica Linn. polysaccharide and peach gum had beneficial effects on human gut microbiota. However, their complex polysaccharides have never been studied during the fecal fermentation in vitro. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of Ficus carica Linn. polysaccharide (FCPS), peach gum polysaccharide (PGPS) and their complex polysaccharides on fecal fermentation characteristics and gut microbiota composition in vitro. The changes of pH, gas production and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the metabolites were measured at 0, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h under anaerobic conditions. The changes of gut microbiota were measured at 24 h. The results of metabolite determination showed that FCPS and FCPG2_1 had strong acid production, pH reduction and gas production ability, while the PGPS had poor effect. The results of gut microbiota analysis showed that Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla in the fermentation process, and the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was the lowest in the FCPG1_1. At the genus level, the promoting effects of these five polysaccharides on different genera were different. FCPS notably augmented the proliferation of Bacteroides and Phascolarctobacterium. Similarly, FCPG1_1 significantly enhanced the growth of Faecalibacterium and Paraprevotella. Furthermore, FCPG2_1 was responsible for an upsurge in the proliferation of the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, whereas PGPS proved excellent in stimulating Roseburia's growth. In summary, complex polysaccharides and FCPS were better, and they had potential anti-obesity effects. This study had practical significance for the development of functional food and dietary intervention.

Zwitterionic functionalization of polysaccharide gum by graft copolymerization to develop 3-D network materials for anticancer drug delivery applications

Herein, functionalization of polysaccharide gum has been carried out to develop network copolymeric materials for use in sustained anticancer drug delivery. Grafting reaction of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (MEDSAH) onto sterculia gum has been done in the presence of crosslinker. Copolymeric materials were characterized by scanning electron micrographs (SEMs), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). SEM, AFM and XRD displayed heterogeneous morphology with a rough surfaces of amorphous copolymeric materials. Peaks at 173.822 ppm (carbonyl carbon) and at 60.653 ppm (methylene carbon attached to a quaternary ammonium group) confirmed the addition of poly(MEDSAH) during the grafting reaction. Mesh size in network hydrogel was found between 14.54 nm to 36.32 nm. Sustained release of doxorubicin was found with non-Fickian diffusion and was best demonstrated by the kinetic model Hixson Crowell. The biocompatibility of material was revealed in a haemolytic index (1.74 ± 0.26%) less than two percent during the copolymer-blood interaction. The material exhibited antioxidant and mucoadhesion properties. Free radical scavenging ability of copolymers was 49.41 ± 0.97% in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay of the antioxidant test. These properties of copolymeric hydrogels demonstrated their suitability for use in sustained drug delivery systems for cancer chemotherapy.

Highly efficient and selective removal of anionic dyes from aqueous solutions using polyacrylamide/peach gum polysaccharide/attapulgite composite hydrogels with positively charged hybrid network

To avoid the weakness (lower adsorption rate and selectivity) of peach gum polysaccharide (PGP) and improve the adsorption performance of polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogel (lower adsorption capacity), in the present work, the PGP was chemically tailored to afford ammoniated PGP (APGP) and quaternized PGP (QPGP), and attapulgite (ATP) was bi-functionalized with cation groups and carbon‑carbon double bond. Then, PAAm/APGP and PAAm/QPGP/ATP hydrogels were synthesized via redox polymerization. The synthesis procedure and properties of hydrogels were traced by FTIR, SEM, XPS, TGA, TEM, and BET methods, and the dye adsorption performance of the hydrogels was evaluated using the new coccine (NC) and tartrazine (TTZ) aqueous solutions as the model anionic dyes. Effects of initial dye concentration, pH, and ionic strength on the adsorption were investigated. Compared with PAAm/APGP hydrogel, PAAm/APGP/ATP hydrogel exhibits higher adsorption rate, superior adsorption capacity, stability, and selectivity towards anionic dye. The adsorption process of PAAm/QPGP/ATP hydrogel reached equilibrium in about 20 min and followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption capacities towards NC and TTZ of PAAm/QPGP/ATP hydrogel were calculated as 873.235 and 731.432 mg/g. This hydrogel adsorbent originating from PAAm, PGP, and ATP shows great promise for application in practical water treatment.