Polysaccharide

The difference in our polysaccharides relies on their solubility, biocompatibility, stability, and functional properties.

Specification

Depending on the final product, polymers are optimized for various specifications. These include molecular weight (MW), the degree of substitution of functional groups (such as sulfur, carboxymethyl (CM), quaternary ammonium (Q), diethylaminoethyl (DEAE), etc.), pH, purity, and the amount of attached dyes. Each of these factors can significantly influence the properties and performance of the polymer. Among all these factors, molecular weight is a very important factor. Molecular weight significantly influences the structural and physical properties of polysaccharides.

Molecular Weight

Low molecular weight (MW) polysaccharides tend to have a more linear and less complex structure, making them highly soluble in water. Their smaller size results in low viscosity, which is ideal for applications requiring low-thickness solutions.

Medium MW polysaccharides exhibit a more branched structure compared to their low MW counterparts. They maintain good solubility but start to show increased viscosity, providing moderate viscosity that is useful in applications like drug delivery and food thickeners.

High MW polysaccharides have a high degree of branching and complex structures. As the molecular weight increases, their solubility decreases, sometimes requiring specific conditions to dissolve. These polysaccharides exhibit high viscosity, making them perfect for applications needing thickening and gelling properties.

Dyes

Non-fluorescent dyes

• Cibacron blue F3GA: It is an anionic anthraquinone dye. It is commonly used as a ligand in affinity chromatography to purify proteins, enzymes, and biopolymers.
• Reactive Blue: Reactive Blue 2 is an anionic dye including 2 isomers of Cibacron blue F3GA, which is commonly used in affinity chromatography for the purification of proteins.

Fluorescent dyes

• FITC: Green fluorescent, highly sensitive to pH
• TRITC: Orange fluorescent, non-pH dependant
• ATTO™-dyes: possibility to select dye based on the required feature
• Antonia Red™: Red-shifted dye, non-pH dependant, readily soluble in water
• Eosin: Strong orange fluorescence at basic pH

Functionalization

• Carboxymethyl (CM): This modification increases the water solubility, and binding properties of the polysaccharides and introduces negative charges, making them polyanionic.
• Diethylaminoethyl (DEAE): Add positive charge to polysaccharides that offer ion-exchange properties and increase the polysaccharide’s ability to bind anionic molecules, making them effective in separation and purification processes.
• Quaternary-Ammonium (Q): It significantly enhances the solubility of polysaccharides due to the interaction between the positively charged ammonium groups and water molecules.
• Lysine: Introduces amino groups, which can enhance the polysaccharide’s biocompatibility, functionality, cell adhesion, and antimicrobial properties.
• Phenyl: This modification can enhance the hydrophobicity of the polysaccharides by reducing the overall polarity and providing rigidity to the polymer chains.

Technical vs Pharma grade

Our customers can choose between technical and pharma grade products. The pharma grade option includes additional rigorous testing for microbial contamination (TYMC/TAMC), bacterial endotoxins, and residual solvents, ensuring the highest quality and safety standards.

Fractionation of dextran

Polysaccharide fractionation is the process of separating polysaccharides into distinct fractions based on their molecular weight, solubility, or other properties. This technique is crucial for obtaining uniform polysaccharide samples, which are essential for various applications in research and industry. Fractionation helps solve problems related to the heterogeneity of polysaccharides, ensuring consistency and reliability in their use

There are different methods like chromatography, ultrafiltration, and gradient non-solvent precipitation to achieve polysaccharide uniformity.

• Chromatography: Utilizes columns with specific molecular weight cut-offs.
• Ultrafiltration: Uses membranes with specific molecular weight cut-off
• Non-solvent fractional precipitation: Gradual addition of a non-solvent to a polysaccharide solution causes gradual precipitation.

While chromatography and ultrafiltration can be limited by equipment costs and scalability issues, non-solvent fractional precipitation stands out for its simplicity and scalability. This method uses basic equipment like stirred tanks and is versatile for different polysaccharides, making it a promising approach for preparative fractionation.

Advantages of Gradient Non-Solvent Precipitation

• Simple Equipment: Requires only basic equipment like stirred tanks.
• Scalability: Easily scalable for large or small preparations.
• Versatility: Applicable to various polysaccharides with different molecular weights.
• Cost-Effective: Lower equipment and operational costs compared to chromatography and ultrafiltration.

This approach ensures that we can meet the diverse needs of our customers by providing tailored polysaccharide solutions.