Marine polysaccharides: therapeutic efficacy and biomedical applications

Abstract

The ocean contains numerous marine organisms, including algae, animals, and plants, from which diverse marine polysaccharides with useful physicochemical and biological properties can be extracted. In particular, fucoidan, carrageenan, alginate, and chitosan have been extensively investigated in pharmaceutical and biomedical fields owing to their desirable characteristics, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity. Various therapeutic efficacies of marine polysaccharides have been elucidated, including the inhibition of cancer, inflammation, and viral infection. The therapeutic activities of these polysaccharides have been demonstrated in various settings, from in vitro laboratory-scale experiments to clinical trials. In addition, marine polysaccharides have been exploited for tissue engineering, the immobilization of biomolecules, and stent coating. Their ability to detect and respond to external stimuli, such as pH, temperature, and electric fields, has enabled their use in the design of novel drug delivery systems. Thus, along with the promising characteristics of marine polysaccharides, this review will comprehensively detail their various therapeutic, biomedical, and miscellaneous applications.

Keywords: Anti-cancer; Anti-inflammatory; Anti-viral; Biosensor; Marine polysaccharide; Tissue regeneration.

Fig. 1

Schematic diagram illustrating the mechanism of anticancer efficacy of fucoidan against mouse breast cancer 4T1 cells. Cells were treated with different concentrations of fucoidan for 48 h. Apoptotic features such as chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation were induced in fucoidan-treated 4T1 cells

Fig. 2

Schematic diagram of the antimicrobial mechanism of low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) against 105 Candida isolates. 105 Candida strains were markedly inhibited by LMWC dissolved in acetic acid. Chitosan with positive charges is capable of interacting with anionic charged cell walls of the Candida isolates, resulting in destabilization of the walls

Fig. 3

Improvement of function of biosensor by immobilizing detecting biomolecules on electrode using marine polysaccharides. To increase conductivity of the biosensor, conductive polymers can be compositely used with marine polysaccharides. Incorporation of electro-catalyst in the biosensor can promote bioreactions among the biomolecules

Fig. 4

Coating surface of orthopedic implant with marine polysaccharides for inhibiting proliferation of bacteria on the implant surface. a Marine polysaccharides coated on the implant surface can inhibit the proliferation of bacteria by preventing the formation of biofilm by bacteria. b Anti-bacterial drugs can be loaded in the matrix of marine polysaccharides to further inhibit the proliferation of bacteria