Marine Polysaccharides Volume 3

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Marine Polysaccharides" that was published in Marine Drugs

The field of marine polysaccharides is constantly evolving, due to progress in the discovery and production of new marine polysaccharides. Seaweed remains the most abundant source of polysaccharides, but recent advances in biotechnology have allowed the production of large quantities of polysaccharides from a variety of micro-algae, by controlling growth conditions and tailoring the production of bioactive compounds in a bioreactor. Of particular interest are polysaccharides produced by micro-organisms from extreme marine environments, due to their recognized different biochemistry. Extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) with unique properties produced by a number of micro-algae are known. The first volume is a collection of papers concerning the identification and characterization of novel marine polysaccharides. It is divided into three chapters; the first two are dedicated to polysaccharides from different marine sources (algae, micro-algae, animals), while the third one gathers information on the isolation, characterization and bioactivity of new EPSs.

Increased public awareness of the importance of healthy living presents new challenges for the commercial food processing sector. The industry is always on the hunt for novel and safe additives with functional properties that can be used to impart healthy and appealing properties to foods. While the ocean is known as a conventional source of fish proteins and lipids, it is yet to be tapped as a source of polysaccharides. A clear exposition on how these resources can be developed, Marine Polysaccharides: Food Applications compiles recent data on the food applications of marine polysaccharides from such diverse sources as fishery products, seaweeds, microalgae, microorganisms, and corals. The book begins with discussions on the isolation of polysaccharides from marine sources and their properties, particularly those important from a food technology point of view. It then focuses on the actual food applications of these compounds and concludes with a brief examination of biomedical applications. The author presents an overview of the general functional properties of polysaccharides, including their structure; their hydration, gelation, emulsification, and rheological properties; and interactions among themselves and with other food components such as proteins that are relevant to food processing. He then explores the isolation and food-related properties of various marine polysaccharides, use of these polysaccharides in food product and biopackaging, recent developments in composite films and nanotechnology, and safety and regulatory issues. While there are many books available on polysaccharides, few address the applications of marine polysaccharide food product development. Written from a realistic, practical point of view avoiding technical jargon, this book highlights the ocean not as a conventional source of fish protein and lipids, but as a major supplier of versatile carbohydrates that can have diverse food applications.

In the past few decades, marine organisms, including macroalgae and microalgae, have been extensively explored as potential sources of bioactive compounds with applications in various fields such as pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, cosmetics and foodstuffs. Marine polysaccharides, such as chitin/chitosan, ulvans, fucans, alginates and carrageenans, are biochemical compounds with several important properties such as anticoagulant and/or antithrombotic, immunomodulatory, antitumor, antilipidemic, hypoglycemic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Due to their biocompatible, nontoxic and biodegradable nature, marine polysaccharides offer a better alternative to be used in advancement of the biomedical field. This book focuses on marine polysaccharides; their derivatives, blends, composites and hydrogels; and their multifaceted applications in various fields. The book also discusses the various aspects of marine polysaccharides from the point of view of chemistry and related applications. It is an important reference for marine biotechnologists, natural product scientists, students, researchers and academicians working in the area of materials science, marine science and polymer chemistry.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Marine Polysaccharides" that was published in Marine Drugs

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Marine Polysaccharides" that was published in Marine Drugs

The bioactivity potential of marine polysaccharides has long been considered an underexploited aspect. These molecules found in seaweed, microalgae, bacteria, and animal fish (shellfish, mollusks, etc.) and the derived oligosaccharides need to be explored thoroughly with an interdisciplinary approach. They are an extraordinary source of chemical diversity, and the literature highlights many applicative fields, including the food industry, cosmetics, biomedicine, agriculture, environmental protection, wastewater management, etc. More recently, a new challenge has emerged: the exploitation of marine biomass as the source of sustainable energy to participate in the future replacement of fossil resources. Enzymatic Technologies for Marine Polysaccharides provides insight into the recent research developments of marine polysaccharides and their current and potential applications. The first section of the book explores the diversity of marine polysaccharides from various angles, including a description of the chemical complexity and current applications and new perspectives in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and biomaterials offered by recent research. Efficient valorization of the marine polysaccharide biomass requires a rigorous analysis of the polysaccharides structure and their biological properties. The second section of the book concerns the development of extraction techniques and the improvement of the methods aimed at the characterization of their structure and function. Finally, the third and last section of the book articulates the enzymatic technologies from the discovery of novel enzymes to their production pipelines related to the fields of biorefinery, food, pharmaceutics, and other fine chemicals. Presents the latest research in marine oligosaccharides and polysaccharides Written by world-class researchers in marine enzyme technology Discusses the latest developments in extraction methods Presents a detailed overview of enzymatic routes for modification, production, and synthesis of marine oligosaccharides Contains extensive references at the end of each chapter to enhance further study

This book provides the whole spectrum of polysaccharides from basic concepts to commercial market applications. Chapters cover various types of sources, classification, properties, characterization, processing, rheology and fabrication of polysaccharide-based materials and their composites and gels. The applications of polysaccharides include in cosmetics, food science, drug delivery, biomedicine, biofuel production, marine, packaging, chromatography and environmental remediation. It also reviews the fabrication of inorganic and carbon nanomaterials from polysaccharides. The book incorporates industrial applications and will fill the gap between the exploration works in the laboratory and viable applications in related ventures.