Fucoidans: From Production to Application

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 16886

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
Interests: white (industrial) and marine biotechnology; biocatalysis; the development of downstream processes
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Guest Editor
1. Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
2. Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
Interests: marine biotechnology; chromatography; fucoidans; phytochemistry; pharmacology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fucoidans, both from marine invertebrates and brown seaweeds, have attracted significant interest in the last few decades due to their great variety of applications in different scientific fields compared to other sulfated biopolysaacharides. Such applications involve their versatile chemical and physicochemical properties, which depend on different factors, including the biogenic and geographical source, harvesting season, and extraction and purification methods. Nowadays, fucoidans are involved in pharmaceutical preparations ranging from cosmeceutical to anti-tumor drug formulations. For this Special Issue, we are inviting all papers considering fucoidans, from their production process to applications. Potential topics include fucoidans’ various chemical classes, applications of downstream processes, and pharmaceutical formulations containing fucoidans either alone or in combination with other drugs. The pharmacological mechanisms underlying fucoidans’ functions are also of interest, as they are important to revealing fucoidans’ outstanding effects and their potential as candidates for treating human illness.

Prof. Dr. Roland Ulber
Dr. Ahmed Zayed
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • chemistry
  • cosmeceutical applications
  • cultivation
  • drug delivery
  • downstream processes
  • fucoidans
  • nanobiotechnology
  • nanomedicine
  • pharmacology
  • structure-activity relationships
  • valorization

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3321 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Fucoidans from Five Species of Brown Seaweeds
by Ekaterina D. Obluchinskaya, Olga N. Pozharitskaya and Alexander N. Shikov
Mar. Drugs 2022, 20(10), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/md20100606 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 3811
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidans from brown seaweeds (Saccharina japonica (SJ), Fucus vesiculosus (FV), Fucus distichus (FD), Fucus serratus (FS), and Ascophyllum nodosum (AN)), and determine the relationship between composition and biological activity. The anti-inflammatory activity was [...] Read more.
This study aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidans from brown seaweeds (Saccharina japonica (SJ), Fucus vesiculosus (FV), Fucus distichus (FD), Fucus serratus (FS), and Ascophyllum nodosum (AN)), and determine the relationship between composition and biological activity. The anti-inflammatory activity was tested in vitro. It is believed that inflammation could be triggered by free radicals. Fucoidans from F. vesiculosus (FV1 and FV3) showed the strongest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity with an IC50 = 0.05 mg/mL. In the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) test, the activity was concentration-dependent. Notable, the TAC of fucoidans except samples of FV2 and SJ (which have a lower phenolic content) was higher than that of phloroglucinol. The TAC of fucoidans strongly and positively correlated with polyphenol content. A weak correlation was associated with xylose content. The synergistic effect for fucoidans was calculated for the first time using carbohydrates and polyphenols as model mixtures. The synergy in the DPPH test was found only for FV1 and FV3 (mixture effect ME = 2.68 and 2.04, respectively). The ME strongly positively correlated with polyphenols. The relationship of ME with fucose content was positive but moderate. It was first established that the anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidan could be mediated via the inhibition of protein denaturation. The inhibition was concentration-dependent and strongly correlated with the fucose content and moderate with sulfate content. The purified fucoidan FV2 showed the most promising activity (IC50 = 0.20 mg/mL vs. IC50 = 0.37 mg/mL for diclofenac sodium). Similar relations were also observed in the membrane protection model. Fucoidans were able to stabilize the cell membrane integrity of human red blood corpuscles (HRBC). The results of our study support the rationality of fucoidan use as a promising agent for the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases via mechanisms of radical scavenging, antioxidant activity, inhibition of protein denaturation, and HRBC membrane stabilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fucoidans: From Production to Application)
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14 pages, 6241 KiB  
Article
Active Targeting of P-Selectin by Fucoidan Modulates the Molecular Profiling of Metastasis in Docetaxel-Resistant Prostate Cancer
by Chang-Hsun Ho, Mei-Lin Chen, Hau-Lun Huang, Chih-Jen Lai, Chih-Hsin Liu, Chih-Pin Chuu and Yu-Hsin Lin
Mar. Drugs 2022, 20(9), 542; https://doi.org/10.3390/md20090542 - 23 Aug 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2190
Abstract
The standard of care for prostate cancer (PCa) is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Although hormone-sensitive PCa is curable by ADT, most conditions progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPCa) and metastatic CRPCa (mCRPCa). Front-line docetaxel has been administered to patients with CRPCa and mCRPCa. [...] Read more.
The standard of care for prostate cancer (PCa) is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Although hormone-sensitive PCa is curable by ADT, most conditions progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPCa) and metastatic CRPCa (mCRPCa). Front-line docetaxel has been administered to patients with CRPCa and mCRPCa. Nevertheless, docetaxel resistance after half a year of therapy has emerged as an urgent clinical concern in patients with CRPCa and mCRPCa. We verified the mechanism by which docetaxel-resistant PCa cells (DU/DX50) exhibited significant cell migration and expression of malignant tumor-related proteins. Our study shows that the biological activity of fucoidan has an important application for docetaxel-resistant PCa cells, inhibiting IL-1R by binding to P-selectin and reducing the expression levels of NF-κB p50 and Cox2 in this metastasis-inhibiting signaling pathway. Furthermore, the combined treatment of fucoidan and docetaxel showed significant anticancer and synergistic effects on the viability of DU/DX50 cells, which is relevant for overcoming the current limitations and improving treatment outcomes. Overall, fucoidan-based combination chemotherapy may exert beneficial effects and facilitate the treatment of docetaxel-resistant PCa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fucoidans: From Production to Application)
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15 pages, 2856 KiB  
Article
Injectable Thermosensitive Chitosan-Collagen Hydrogel as A Delivery System for Marine Polysaccharide Fucoidan
by Julia Ohmes, Lena Marie Saure, Fabian Schütt, Marie Trenkel, Andreas Seekamp, Regina Scherließ, Rainer Adelung and Sabine Fuchs
Mar. Drugs 2022, 20(6), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/md20060402 - 18 Jun 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3697
Abstract
Fucoidans, sulfated polysaccharides from brown algae, possess multiple bioactivities in regard to osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and inflammation, all representing key molecular processes for successful bone regeneration. To utilize fucoidans in regenerative medicine, a delivery system is needed which temporarily immobilizes the polysaccharide at the [...] Read more.
Fucoidans, sulfated polysaccharides from brown algae, possess multiple bioactivities in regard to osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and inflammation, all representing key molecular processes for successful bone regeneration. To utilize fucoidans in regenerative medicine, a delivery system is needed which temporarily immobilizes the polysaccharide at the injured site. Hydrogels have become increasingly interesting biomaterials for the support of bone regeneration. Their structural resemblance with the extracellular matrix, their flexible shape, and capacity to deliver bioactive compounds or stem cells into the affected tissue make them promising materials for the support of healing processes. Especially injectable hydrogels stand out due to their minimal invasive application. In the current study, we developed an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel for the delivery of fucoidan based on chitosan, collagen, and β-glycerophosphate (β-GP). Physicochemical parameters such as gelation time, gelation temperature, swelling capacity, pH, and internal microstructure were studied. Further, human bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and human outgrowth endothelial cells (OEC) were cultured on top (2D) or inside the hydrogels (3D) to assess the biocompatibility. We found that the sol-gel transition occurred after approximately 1 min at 37 °C. Fucoidan integration into the hydrogel had no or only a minor impact on the mentioned physicochemical parameters compared to hydrogels which did not contain fucoidan. Release assays showed that 60% and 80% of the fucoidan was released from the hydrogel after two and six days, respectively. The hydrogel was biocompatible with MSC and OEC with a limitation for OEC encapsulation. This study demonstrates the potential of thermosensitive chitosan-collagen hydrogels as a delivery system for fucoidan and MSC for the use in regenerative medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fucoidans: From Production to Application)
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Review

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23 pages, 1284 KiB  
Review
Fucoidan in Pharmaceutical Formulations: A Comprehensive Review for Smart Drug Delivery Systems
by Yusuf A. Haggag, Abeer A. Abd Elrahman, Roland Ulber and Ahmed Zayed
Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(2), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21020112 - 04 Feb 2023
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6180
Abstract
Fucoidan is a heterogeneous group of polysaccharides isolated from marine organisms, including brown algae and marine invertebrates. The physicochemical characteristics and potential bioactivities of fucoidan have attracted substantial interest in pharmaceutical industries in the past few decades. These polysaccharides are characterized by possessing [...] Read more.
Fucoidan is a heterogeneous group of polysaccharides isolated from marine organisms, including brown algae and marine invertebrates. The physicochemical characteristics and potential bioactivities of fucoidan have attracted substantial interest in pharmaceutical industries in the past few decades. These polysaccharides are characterized by possessing sulfate ester groups that impart negatively charged surfaces, low/high molecular weight, and water solubility. In addition, various promising bioactivities have been reported, such as antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antiviral effects. Hence, the formulation of fucoidan has been investigated in the past few years in diverse pharmaceutical dosage forms to be able to reach their site of action effectively. Moreover, they can act as carriers for various drugs in value-added drug delivery systems. The current work highlights the attractive biopharmaceutical properties of fucoidan being formulated in oral, inhalable, topical, injectable, and other advanced formulations treating life-quality-affecting diseases. Therefore, the present work points out the current status of fucoidan pharmaceutical formulations for future research transferring their application from in vitro and in vivo studies to clinical application and market availability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fucoidans: From Production to Application)
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