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Polymers
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Optimization, Properties and Application of Polysaccharides
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Optimization, Properties and Application of Polysaccharides

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Analysis and Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 1585

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tiago Linus Silva Coêlho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí—UFPI, Teresina 64049-550, PI, Brazil
Interests: renewable materials; celulose; starch; industrial processes; multivariate analysis
Dr. Luiz Brito de Souza Filho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí—UFPI, Teresina 64049-550, PI, Brazil
Interests: pectin; bioactive compounds; multivariate analysis; chitin; food ingredients
Dr. Darlisson Slag Neri Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Interdisciplinary Chemistry Laboratory (ICL), Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, PI, Brazil
Interests: pectin; bioactive compounds; multivariate analysis; chitin; chitosan

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polysaccharides are polymers composed of long chains of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds. Their variety comes from the diversity of monosaccharides. Examples include cellulose, starch, chitin, glycogen, hyaluronic acid, agarose, and xanthan gum. Found in all living organisms, they play vital roles in biological processes and are widely used in industries such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, biomedicine, and environmental remediation. Their versatile and renewable properties make polysaccharides essential in various industrial applications.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for researchers, scientists, and practitioners to present their latest findings, cutting-edge research, and innovative applications related to polysaccharides. We welcome original research articles and reviews that delve into extraction optimization, fundamental understanding of the structure and properties of polysaccharides, as well as their novel applications in various fields. Potential topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Extraction and processing of polysaccharides;
  • Modifications of polysaccharides, such as chemical modification, enzymatic modification, and physical modification;
  • Structural characterization of polysaccharides;
  • Properties of polysaccharides, such as rheology, solubility, and stability;
  • Polysaccharide-based foods with favorable textures and health effects;
  • Polysaccharide-based functional and smart materials;
  • Applications of polysaccharides, such as health (e.g., drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing), environmental remediation, food, food packaging, cosmetics, personal care, and biotechnology.

Dr. Tiago Linus Silva Coêlho
Guest Editor

Dr. Luiz Brito de Souza Filho
Dr. Darlisson Slag Neri Silva
Guest Editor Assistants

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pectin
  • bioactive compounds
  • multivariate analysis
  • chitin
  • chitosan
  • food ingredients
  • renewable materials
  • cellulose
  • starch
  • industrial processes

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 8880 KiB  
Article
Impact of Acid Hydrolysis on Morphology, Rheology, Mechanical Properties, and Processing of Thermoplastic Starch
by Saffana Kouka, Veronika Gajdosova, Beata Strachota, Ivana Sloufova, Radomir Kuzel, Zdenek Stary and Miroslav Slouf
Polymers 2025, 17(10), 1310; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17101310 - 11 May 2025
Viewed by 312
Abstract
We modified native wheat starch using 15, 30, and 60 min of acid hydrolysis (AH). The non-modified and AH-modified starches were converted to highly homogeneous thermoplastic starches (TPSs) using our two-step preparation protocol consisting of solution casting and melt mixing. Our main objective [...] Read more.
We modified native wheat starch using 15, 30, and 60 min of acid hydrolysis (AH). The non-modified and AH-modified starches were converted to highly homogeneous thermoplastic starches (TPSs) using our two-step preparation protocol consisting of solution casting and melt mixing. Our main objective was to verify if AH can decrease the processing temperature of TPS. All samples were characterized in detail by microscopic, spectroscopic, diffraction, thermomechanical, rheological, and micromechanical methods, including in situ measurements of torque and temperature during the final melt mixing step. The experimental results showed that (i) AH decreased the average molecular weight preferentially in the amorphous regions, (ii) the lower-viscosity matrix in the AH-treated starches resulted in slightly higher crystallinity, and (iii) all AH-modified TPSs with a less viscous amorphous phase and higher content of crystalline phase exhibited similar properties. The effect of the higher crystallinity predominated at a laboratory temperature and low deformations, resulting in slightly stiffer material. The effect of the lower viscosity dominated during the melt mixing, where the shorter molecules acted as a lubricant and decreased the in situ measured processing temperature. The AH-induced decrease in the processing temperature could be beneficial for energy savings and/or possible temperature-sensitive admixtures for TPS systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization, Properties and Application of Polysaccharides)
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24 pages, 5371 KiB  
Article
Selenium-Enriched Polysaccharides from Lentinula edodes Mycelium: Biosynthesis, Chemical Characterisation, and Assessment of Antioxidant Properties
by Eliza Malinowska, Grzegorz Łapienis, Agnieszka Szczepańska and Jadwiga Turło
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060719 - 9 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 988
Abstract
Selenium–polysaccharides possess antioxidant properties, making them promising materials for functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and clinical applications. This study examines the incorporation of selenium into polysaccharides via mycelial biosynthesis and its effects on structure and antioxidant activity. Polysaccharides obtained from Lentinula edodes-submerged cultures grown [...] Read more.
Selenium–polysaccharides possess antioxidant properties, making them promising materials for functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and clinical applications. This study examines the incorporation of selenium into polysaccharides via mycelial biosynthesis and its effects on structure and antioxidant activity. Polysaccharides obtained from Lentinula edodes-submerged cultures grown in Se-supplemented and non-supplemented media were analysed for Se content (RP-HPLC/FLD), structure (FT-IR, HPLC, and HPGPC-ELSD), and antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging, reducing power, and Fe2+ chelation). Two low-molecular-weight Se–heteropolysaccharides (Se-FE-1.1 and Se-FE-1.2) containing ~80 and 125 µg/g Se were isolated, primarily composed of glucose, mannose, and galactose with β-glycosidic linkages. Se incorporation into polysaccharides selectively enhanced their antioxidant activity in the DPPH radical scavenging assay, with minimal effects observed in iron chelation and reducing power assays. Crude Se–polysaccharides displayed the highest antioxidant activity, suggesting an additional contribution from protein components. Our findings demonstrate that Se is effectively incorporated into polysaccharides, altering monosaccharide composition while preserving glycosidic linkages. The selective enhancement of radical scavenging suggests that selenium plays a specific role in antioxidant activity, primarily influencing radical scavenging mechanisms rather than interactions with metal ions. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms of selenium incorporation, the nature of its bonding within the polysaccharide molecule, and its impact on biological activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization, Properties and Application of Polysaccharides)
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