Marine Polysaccharides with Anticoagulant and Antimicrobial Activity
A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials of Marine Origin".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 6
Special Issue Editor
Interests: clinical microbiology; antimicrobial agents; virology; infectious diseases
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Marine ecosystems have a vast diversity of organisms that produce unique bioactive compounds. Among them, marine polysaccharides are structurally diverse and functionally potent biomolecules with a broad range of therapeutic uses, such as anticoagulation and antibiotic activities.
As the burden of thromboembolic diseases continues to rise globally, there is an increasing need for safe and effective anticoagulants. Current anticoagulant therapies are associated with limitations in specificity, safety, and tolerability. Polysaccharides derived from marine organisms, such as aquatic plants and marine animals, have the potential for drug development as next-generation antithrombotic agents due to their novel mechanisms and favorable biological profiles.
In addition to their role in coagulation, marine polysaccharides also demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. They have the ability to inhibit a wide range of pathogens, including viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, cytomegalovirus, and dengue virus; parasites, such as Plasmodium; bacteria and their biofilms, such as Mycoplasma; and fungi, including Candida and various dermatophytes. This antimicrobial property can be explored as a strategy for preventing and treating various co-infections and superinfections. This can help in reducing the need for administering multiple antimicrobial agents to the patient and decrease the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the discovery, characterization, and biomedical application of marine polysaccharides with anticoagulant and antimicrobial activities. We welcome articles that help us better understand these useful marine compounds and how they can help solve important clinical challenges.
Dr. Poonam Sharma
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- marine polysaccharides
- sulfated polysaccharides
- anticoagulant activity
- antimicrobial activity
- antibiofilm features
- antiviral agents
- antibacterial agents
- antiparasitic agents
- antifungal agents
- co-infections and superinfections
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