http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/polysaccharides/ Important additional information, Open Access: This special issue will be fully Open Access with publishing fees paid by authors (see http://www.mdpi.org/oaj-supports.htm). Open Access increases publicity and promotes more frequent citations as indicated by several studies. (Added on 9 November 2007) Leading Papers (most of these are review papers): Mazumder, S.; Lerouge, P.; Loutelier-Bourhis, C.; Driouich, A.; Ray, B. Structural characterisation of hemicellulosic polysaccharides from Benincasa hispida using specific enzyme hydrolysis, ion exchange chromatography and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. Carbohydr. Polym. 2005, 59, 231–238. Xu, H.; Zhang, Y.Y.; Zhang, J.W.; Chen, D.F.. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 2007, 7, 175–182. Omarsdottir, S.; Petersen, B.O.; Paulsen, B.S.; Togola, A.; Duusb, J.; Olafsdottir, E.S. Carbohydr. Res. 2006, 341, 2449–2455. Jia, L.M.; Liu, L.; Dong, Q.; Fang, J.N.. Carbohydr. Res. 2004, 339, 2667-2671. Ga, O.G.de; Martıneza, M.; Sanabria, L.; Pinto, G.L.de; Igartuburu, J.M.. Food Hydrocol. 2005, 19, 37–43. Reis, R.A.; Tischer, C.A.; Gorin, P.A.J.; Iacomini, M.. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 2002, 210, 1-5. Yang, J.H.; Du, Y.M.; Huang, R.H.; Wan, Y.Y.; Li, T.Y.. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2002, 31, 55-62. Barton, C.J.; Tailford, L.E.; Welchman, H.; Zhang, Z.; Gilbert, H.J.; Dupree, P.; Goubet, F.. Planta 2006, 224, 163–174. Wang, Q.J.; Fang, Y.Z.. J. Chromatogr. B 2004, 812, 309–324. Zhang, M.; Cui, S.W.; Cheung, P.C.K.; Wang, Q.. Trends Food Sci. Tech. 2007, 18, 4-19. Volpi, N.; Maccari, F.. J. Chromatogr. B 2006, 834, 1–13. Paulsen, B.S.; Olafsdottir, E.S.; Ingolfsdottir, K.. J. Chromatogr. A 2002, 967, 163–171. Lo, T.C.T.; Jiang, Y.H.; Chao, A.L.J.; Chang, C.A.. Anal. Chimica. Acta 2007, 584, 50–56. Ban, E.; Choi, O.; Ryu, J.; Yoo, Y.S.. Electrophoresis 2001, 22, 2217–2221. Hui,C.W.; Di, X.. J. Chromatogr. B 2004, 812, 241–257. Li, S.P.; Zhang, G.H.; Zeng, Q.; Huang, Z.G.; Wang, Y.T.; Dong, T.T.X.; Tsim, K.W.K.. Phytomedicine 2006, 13, 428-433. Lin, Z.B.; Zhang, H.N.. Acta. Pharmacol. Sin. 2004, 25, 1387-1395. Schepetkin, I.A.; Quinn, M.T.. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 2006, 6, 317– 333. Chen, J.R.; Hu, T.J.; Zheng, R.L.. Int. J. Immunopharmacol. 2007, 7, 547–553. Lin, Y.L.; Zhang, L.N.; Chen, L.; Jin, Y.; Zeng, F.B.; Jin, J.; Wan, B.; Cheung, P.C.K.. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 2004, 34, 231–236. Submission All papers should be submitted to molecules@mdpi.com with copy to the guest editor. To be published continuously until the deadline and papers will be listed together at the special websites. Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed monthly journal published by MDPI. Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a paper. Open Access publication fees are 800 CHF per paper. English correction fees (250 CHF) will be added in certain cases (1050 CHF per paper for those papers that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.). http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/10/2408/ Two polysaccharides (APS-I and APS-II) were isolated from the water extract of Radix Astragali and purified through ethanol precipitation, deproteination and by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. Their molecular weight was determined using high performance liquid chromatography and gel permeation chromatography (HPLC-GPC) and their monosaccharide composition was analyzed by TLC and HPLC methods, using a refractive index detector (RID) and an NH2 column. It was shown that APS-I consisted of arabinose and glucose and APS-II consisted of rhamnose, arabinose and glucose, in a molar ratio of 1:3.45 and 1:6.25:17.86, respectively. The molecular weights (Mw) of APS-I and APS-II were 1,699,100 Da and 1,197,600 Da, respectively. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/10/2408/ Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-10-01 13 10 Article 2408 2415 1420-3049 Molecular Weight and Monosaccharide Composition of Astragalus Polysaccharides 2008-10-01 doi: 10.3390/molecules13102408 Du-Juan Xu Quan Xia Jia-Jia Wang Pei-Pei Wang http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/9/2069/ Polysaccharide-based biomaterials are an emerging class in several biomedical fields such as tissue regeneration, particularly for cartilage, drug delivery devices and gelentrapment systems for the immobilization of cells. Important properties of the polysaccharides include controllable biological activity, biodegradability, and their ability to form hydrogels. Most of the polysaccharides used derive from natural sources; particularly, alginate and chitin, two polysaccharides which have an extensive history of use in medicine, pharmacy and basic sciences, and can be easily extracted from marine plants (algae kelp) and crab shells, respectively. The recent rediscovery of poly-saccharidebased materials is also attributable to new synthetic routes for their chemical modification, with the aim of promoting new biological activities and/or to modify the final properties of the biomaterials for specific purposes. These synthetic strategies also involve the combination of polysaccharides with other polymers. A review of the more recent research in the field of chemical modification of alginate, chitin and its derivative chitosan is presented. Moreover, we report as case studies the results of our recent work concerning various different approaches and applications of polysaccharide-based biomaterials, such as the realization of novel composites based on calcium sulphate blended with alginate and with a chemically modified chitosan, the synthesis of novel alginate-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers and the development of a family of materials based on alginate and acrylic polymers of potential interest as drug delivery systems. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/9/2069/ Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-09-03 13 9 Review 2069 2106 1420-3049 Marine Derived Polysaccharides for Biomedical Applications: Chemical Modification Approaches 2008-09-03 doi: 10.3390/molecules13092069 Giovanna Gomez D’Ayala Mario Malinconico Paola Laurienzo http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/8/1773/ Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide that is found in many organisms but not in mammals. This sugar plays important roles in cryptobiosis of selaginella mosses, tardigrades (water bears), and other animals which revive with water from a state of suspended animation induced by desiccation. The interesting properties of trehalose are due to its unique symmetrical low-energy structure, wherein two glucose units are bonded face-to-face by 1→1-glucoside links. The Hayashibara Co. Ltd., is credited for developing an inexpensive, environmentally benign and industrial-scale process for the enzymatic conversion of α-1,4-linked polyhexoses to α,α-D-trehalose, which made it easy to explore novel food, industrial, and medicinal uses for trehalose and its derivatives. Trehalosechemistry is a relatively new and emerging field, and polymers of trehalose derivatives appear environmentally benign, biocompatible, and biodegradable. The discriminating properties of trehalose are attributed to its structure, symmetry, solubility, kinetic and thermodynamic stability and versatility. While syntheses of trehalose-based polymer networks can be straightforward, syntheses and characterization of well defined linear polymers with tailored properties using trehalose-based monomers is challenging, and typically involves protection and deprotection of hydroxyl groups to attain desired structural, morphological, biological, and physical and chemical properties in the resulting products. In this review, we will overview known literature on trehalose’s fascinating involvement in cryptobiology; highlight its applications in many fields; and then discuss methods we used to prepare new trehalose-based monomers and polymers and explain their properties. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/8/1773/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-08-21 13 8 Review 1773 1816 1420-3049 Trehalose and Trehalose-based Polymers for Environmentally Benign, Biocompatible and Bioactive Materials 2008-08-21 doi: 10.3390/molecules13081773 Naozumi Teramoto Navzer D. Sachinvala Mitsuhiro Shibata http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/8/1671/ Fucoidan refers to a type of polysaccharide which contains substantial percentages of L-fucose and sulfate ester groups, mainly derived from brown seaweed. For the past decade fucoidan has been extensively studied due to its numerous interesting biological activities. Recently the search for new drugs has raised interest in fucoidans. In the past few years, several fucoidans’ structures have been solved, and many aspects of their biological activity have been elucidated. This review summarizes the research progress on the structure and bioactivity of fucoidan and the relationships between structure and bioactivity. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/8/1671/ Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-08-12 13 8 Review 1671 1695 1420-3049 Fucoidan: Structure and Bioactivity 2008-08-12 doi: 10.3390/molecules13081671 Bo Li Fei Lu Xinjun Wei Ruixiang Zhao http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/8/1599/ Many of the health benefits associated with Aloe vera have been attributed to the polysaccharides contained in the gel of the leaves. These biological activities include promotion of wound healing, antifungal activity, hypoglycemic or antidiabetic effects antiinflammatory, anticancer, immunomodulatory and gastroprotective properties. While the known biological activities of A. vera will be briefly discussed, it is the aim of this review to further highlight recently discovered effects and applications of the leaf gel. These effects include the potential of whole leaf or inner fillet gel liquid preparations of A. vera to enhance the intestinal absorption and bioavailability of co-administered compounds as well as enhancement of skin permeation. In addition, important pharmaceutical applications such as the use of the dried A. vera gel powder as an excipient in sustained release pharmaceutical dosage forms will be outlined. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/8/1599/ Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-08-08 13 8 Review 1599 1616 1420-3049 Composition and Applications of Aloe vera Leaf Gel 2008-08-08 doi: 10.3390/molecules13081599 Josias H. Hamman http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/8/1538/ A novel method that uses matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry to analyze molecular weight and sequencing of glucan in Ganoderma lucidum is presented. Thus, β-glucan, which was isolated from fruiting bodies of G. lucidum, was measured in a direct and fast way using MALDI mass spectrometry. In addition, tandem mass spectrometry of permethylated glucans of G. lucidum, dextran, curdlan and maltohexaose were also pursued and different fragment patterns were obtained. The G. lucidum glucan structure was determined and this method for linkage analysis of permethylated glucan has been proven feasible. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/8/1538/ Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-08-03 13 8 Article 1538 1550 1420-3049 Structure Determination of β-Glucans from Ganoderma lucidum with Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/ionization (MALDI) Mass Spectrometry 2008-08-03 doi: 10.3390/molecules13081538 Wei-Ting Hung Shwu-Huey Wang Chung-Hsuan Chen Wen-Bin Yang http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/6/1384/ Recent studies concerning the isolation and purification of exopolysaccharides from suspension-cultured tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. var. San Marzano) cells and the description of a simple, rapid and low environmental impact method with for obtaining polysaccharides from solid tomato-processing industry wastes are reported. Their chemical composition, rheological properties and partial primary structure were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses (UV, IR, GC-MS, 1H-, 13C-NMR). Moreover, the anticytotoxic activities of exopolysaccharides obtained from cultured tomato cells were tested in a brine shrimp bioassay and the preparation of biodegradable film by chemical processing of polysaccharides from solid tomato industry waste was also reported. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/6/1384/ Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-06-19 13 6 Review 1384 1398 1420-3049 Tomato Derived Polysaccharides for Biotechnological Applications: Chemical and Biological Approaches 2008-06-19 doi: 10.3390/molecules13061384 Giuseppina Tommonaro Annarita Poli Salvatore De Rosa Barbara Nicolaus http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/6/1263/ Chitosan (CS) was prepared from Artemia urmiana cyst shells using the same chemical process as described for the other crustacean species, with minor adjustments in the treatment conditions. The influence of modifications of the CS production process on the physiochemical and functional properties of the CS obtained was examined. The study results indicate that Artemia urmiana cyst shells are a rich source of chitin as 29.3-34.5% of the shell’s dry weight consisted of this material. Compared to crab CS (selected as an example of CS from a different crustacean source) Artemia CS exhibited a medium molecular weight (4.5-5.7 ×105 Da), lower degree of deacetylation (67-74%) and lower viscosity (29-91 centiposes). The physicochemical characteristics (e.g., ash, nitrogen and molecular weight) and functional properties (e.g., water binding capacity and antibacterial activity) of the prepared Artemia CSs were enhanced, compared to control and commercial samples, by varying the processing step sequence. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/6/1263/ Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-06-06 13 6 Article 1263 1274 1420-3049 Preparation of Chitosan from Brine Shrimp (Artemia urmiana) Cyst Shells and Effects of Different Chemical Processing Sequences on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of the Product 2008-06-06 doi: 10.3390/molecules13061263 Hossein Tajik Mehran Moradi Seyed Mehdi Razavi Rohani Amir Mehdi Erfani Farnood Shokouhi Sabet Jalali http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/5/1207/ Polysaccharide extracts were obtained from chestnut bran (Castanea sativa), grape marc (Vitis vinifera) and apple marc (Malus spp.) and fractionated by size exclusion chromatography after endopolygalacturonase degradation. Compositional and linkage analyses by GC and GC-MS showed the characteristic rhamnogalacturonan structure with specific arabinan (apple marc) and type II arabinogalactan (chestnut bran, grape marc) side chains. Type II arabinogalactan rhamnogalacturonan from chestnut bran significantly stimulated the in vitro differentiation of human keratinocytes, giving evidence of a tight structure-function relationship. This molecule comprises short and ramified 3- and 3,6-β- D-galactan and 5- and 3,5-α-L-arabinan side chains, but also contains significant amounts of t-Xyl and 4-Xyl with a characteristic 2:1 ratio. Enzymatic hydrolysis of this polysaccharide produced fragments of lower molecular weight with unchanged xylose content which conserved the same ability to stimulate human keratinocyte differentiation. It could be then speculated that dimeric xylosyl-xylose and/or longer oligomeric xylose side chains attached to a galacturonan and closely associated to hairy rhamno-galacturonan domains are essential patterns that could determine the biological activity of pectins. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/5/1207/ Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-05-27 13 5 Article 1207 1218 1420-3049 Structural Patterns of Rhamnogalacturonans Modulating Hsp-27 Expression in Cultured Human Keratinocytes 2008-05-27 doi: 10.3390/molecules13051207 Vincent Gloaguen Pierre Krausz Véronique Brudieux Brigitte Closs Yves Leroy Yann Guerardel http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/5/1025/ The dissolution of hyaluronan in water leads to its degradation, and as a resultits molecular weight decreases. The degradation of hyaluronan is mainly influenced bytemperature, solution composition, and also its pH. This study describes the influence ofHofmeister series ions on hyaluronan behaviour and hyaluronan film swelling bysolutions of these ions. It was found that Hofmeister ions show lyotropic effectsinfluencing the entanglement of hyaluronan coils and their expansion from solid polymerfilms into swollen gel state. The hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions in the structureof hyaluronan macromolecules are represented by the mutual diffusion coefficient D(c),the mean mutual diffusion coefficient Ds , the expansion work of coil swelling RAδ,s, theactivation enthalpy of diffusion connected with swelling HD,s and kinematic viscosity ofhyaluronan-ions solutions ν. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/5/1025/ Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 CEST Molecules 2008-05-01 13 5 Article 1025 1034 1420-3049 The Influence of Hofmeister Series Ions on Hyaluronan Swelling and Viscosity 2008-05-01 doi: 10.3390/molecules13051025 Aleš Mráček Júlia Varhaníková Marián Lehocký Lenka Gřundělová Alena Pokopcová Vladimír Velebný http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/3/490/ The synthesis of konjac glucomannan-graft-polyacrylamide (KGM-g-PAM) wascarried out at 25°C by γ-irradiation under a N2 atmosphere. The effects of absorbedradiation dosage and monomer concentration on grafting yield and water absorbency werestudied. The grafted copolymers were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), x-ray diffraction (XRD),thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Thegrafting yield was observed to increase with increasing absorbed dosage and monomerconcentration. Compared with the original KGM, the grafted copolymers exhibited betterthermal stability and water absorbency. The results suggest that γ-irradiation is convenientand efficient for inducing graft copolymerization of KGM and acrylamide (AM). http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/3/490/ Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 CET Molecules 2008-03-01 13 3 Article 490 500 1420-3049 Synthesis and Characterization of Konjac Glucomannan-Graft-Polyacrylamide via γ-Irradiation 2008-03-01 doi: 10.3390/molecules13030490 Zhenlin Xu Youhui Yang Yueming Jiang Yuanming Sun Yudong Shen Jie Pang http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/2/452/ Oral delivery is the most common and preferred route of drug administrationalthough the digestive tract exhibits several obstacles to drug delivery including motilityand intraluminal pH profiles. The gut milieu represents the largest mucosal surfaceexposed to microorganisms with 1010-12 colony forming bacteria/g of colonic content.Approximately, one third of fecal dry matter is made of bacteria/ bacterial components.Indeed, the normal gut microbiota is responsible for healthy digestion of dietary fibers(polysaccharides) and fermentation of short chain fatty acids such as acetate and butyratethat provide carbon sources (fuel) for these bacteria. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)results in breakage of the mucosal barrier, an altered microbiota and dysregulated gutimmunity. Prodrugs that are chemically constructed to target colonic release or aredegraded specifically by colonic bacteria, can be useful in the treatment of IBD. Thisreview describes the progress in digestive tract prodrug design and delivery in light of gutmetabolic activities. http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/13/2/452/ Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 CET Molecules 2008-02-27 13 2 Review 452 474 1420-3049 Application of Prodrugs to Inflammatory Diseases of the Gut 2008-02-27 doi: 10.3390/molecules13020452 Helieh S. Oz Jeffrey L. Ebersole