Synthesis, characterization and applications of graft copolymer (κ-carrageenan-g-vinylsulfonic acid)

The synthesis of graft copolymer (κ-carrageenan-g-vinylsulfonic acid) is carried out in nitrogen atmosphere using potassium peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and malonic acid (MA) as redox system. The effect of reaction variables including the concentration of vinylsulfonic acid 1.3×10(-2) to 6.7×10(-2) mol dm(-3), PMS 4×10(-3) to 20×10(-3) mol dm(-3), MA 1.6×10(-3) to 4.8×10(-3) mol dm(-3), sulfuric acid 1×10(-3) to 8×10(-3) mol dm(-3), κ-carrageenan 0.4-1.8 g dm(-3) as well as time duration 60-180 min and temperature 25-45 °C has been studied. The water swelling capacity of graft copolymer is investigated. Flocculation property for both coking and non-coking coals is studied for the treatment of coal mine waste water. The graft copolymer has been characterized by FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis.     

Synthesis and properties of a water soluble graft (chitosan-g-2-acrylamidoglycolic acid) copolymer

The present paper reports the graft copolymerization of 2-acrylamidoglycolic acid onto chitosan by using potassium bromate/silver nitrate as an efficient redox initiator in an inert atmosphere. The effect of reaction conditions on grafting parameters i.e. grafting ratio, efficiency, conversion, add on, homopolymer and rate of grafting has been studied. Experimental results show that maximum grafting has been obtained at 0.4 g dm(-3) concentration of chitosan, 8.0×10(-2) mol dm(-3) concentration of 2-acrylamidoglycolic acid and 1.0×10(-3) mol dm(-3) concentration of hydrogen ion. It has also been observed that grafting ratio, add on, conversion, efficiency and rate of grafting increase up to 3.2×10(-3) mol dm(-3) of silver nitrate and 1.7×10(-2) mol dm(-3) of potassium bromate. Time (120 min) and temperature (40°C) were kept constant during reaction. The physicochemical properties of graft copolymer synthesized have been performed in terms of water swelling, metal ion sorption, flocculation and resistance to biodegradability with respect to the chitosan as a parent polymer. The graft copolymer has been characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.     

Synthesis of graft copolymer (k-carrageenan-g-N,N-dimethylacrylamide) and studies of metal ion uptake, swelling capacity and flocculation properties

Graft copolymer of k-carrageenan and N,N-dimethylacrylamide has been synthesized by free radical polymerization using peroxymonosulphate/glycolic acid redox pair in an inert atmosphere. The grafting parameters i.e. grafting ratio, add on and efficiency decrease with increase in concentration of k-carrageenan from 0.6 to 1.4 g dm⁻³ and hydrogen ion from 3 × 10⁻³ to 7 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³, but these grafting parameters increase with increase in concentration of N,N-dimethylacrylamide from 16 × 10⁻² to 32 × 10⁻² mol dm⁻³, and peroxymonosulphate from 0.8 × 10⁻² to 2.4 × 10⁻² mol dm⁻³. The metal ion sorption, swelling behaviour and flocculation properties have been studied. The intrinsic viscosity of pure and grafted samples has been measured by using Ubbelohde capillary viscometer. Flocculation capability of k-carrageenan and k-carrageenan-g-N,N-dimethylacrylamide for both coking and non-coking coals has been studied for the treatment of coal mine waste water. The graft copolymer has been characterized by Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.     

Effects of Coexistence of β-Casein on Gelation of κ-Carrageenan

The effects of caseins on the rheological properties of κ-carrageenan-calcium gel was investigated by measuring the gel breaking strength. The existence of β-casein in the system promoted the gelation of κ-carrageenan in the presence of calcium ion. Beta-casein increased the strength of calcium gels of κ-carrageenan with increasing NaCl concentration up to 80 mM and strengthened the κ-carrageenan-calcium gel at neutral pH. The values obtained from the slopes of the logarithmic plots of the gel strength versus concentration were 2.15 for κ-carrageenan gel and 2.27 for a β-casein-κcarrageenan mixture gel, suggesting that β-casein may participate in the gelation of κ-carrageenan through the mediation of calcium ions.     

Synthesis, characterization and applications of graft copolymer (Chitosan-g-N,N-dimethylacrylamide)

An unreported graft copolymer of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) with chitosan has been synthesized under nitrogen atmosphere using peroxymonosulphate/mandelic acid redox pair. The effect of reaction conditions on grafting parameters i.e. grafting ratio, efficiency, conversion, add on and homopolymer has been studied. Experimental results show that maximum grafting has been obtained at 1.0 g dm⁻³ concentration of chitosan, 30 × 10⁻² mol dm⁻³ concentration of N,N-dimethylacrylamide and 7.0 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ concentration of hydrogen ion. It has also been observed that grafting ratio, add on, conversion and efficiency increase upto 3.2 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ of mandelic acid, 12.0 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ of potassium peroxymonosulphate, 150 min of time and 40 °C of temperature. Grafted polymer has been characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Water swelling capacity of chitosan-g-N,N-dimethylacrylamide has been determined. It has been observed that the graft copolymer is thermally more stable than parent backbone.     

Graft copolymerization of N-vinylformamide onto sodium carboxymethylcellulose and study of its swelling, metal ion sorption and flocculation behaviour

The present paper reports the graft copolymerization of N-vinylformamide onto sodium carboxymethylcellulose by free radical polymerization using potassium peroxymonosulphate/thiourea redox system in an inert atmosphere. The reaction conditions for maximum grafting have been optimized by varying the reaction variables, including the concentration of N-vinylformamide (12.0 × 10⁻²–28.0 × 10⁻² mol dm⁻³), potassium peroxymonosulphate (4.0 × 10⁻³–12.0 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³), thiourea (1.2 × 10⁻³–4.4 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³), sulphuric acid (2.0 × 10⁻³–10.0 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (0.2–1.8 g dm⁻³) along with time duration (60–180 min) and temperature (25–45° C). Water swelling capacity, metal ion sorption and flocculation studies of synthesized graft copolymer have been performed with respect to the parent polymer. The graft copolymer has been characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.     

Salt dependence and ion specificity of the coil–helix transition of furcellaran

The conformational transition and the cation-binding properties of aqueous furcellaran (a gel-forming, low-sulfated polysaccharide of the carrageenan family) in various salts and salt mixtures was studied by optical rotation and by ¹³³Cs-nmr. The results were compared with theoretical predictions based on the Poisson–Boltzmann cell model (PBCM). The conformational transition of furcellaran occurs in a single step, which implies a nonblocklike distribution of sulfate groups along the polymer chain. The chloride salts of sodium, lithium, and tetramethylammonium are equally potent in inducing helix formation of furcellaran, indicating that these ions act by nonspecific electrostatic interactions. In contrast, the potassium and cesium ions specifically promote helix formation and aggregation (gelation) of furcellaran. The divalent calcium and magnesium ions are nonspecific, but more potent than the nonspecific monovalent ions in inducing helices. Anions differ in their capacity to stabilize the furcellaran helix in the sequence Cl^? < NO < Br^? < SCN^? < I^?. The iodide and thiocyanate anions impede aggregation and gel formation. ¹³³Cs-nmr chemical shifts indicate specific binding of cesium ions to the furcellaran helix. Thus, with respect to its ion specificity and ion-binding properties, furcellaran, with 0.6 sulfate group per repeating disaccharide, resembles κ-carrageenan (1 sulfate/disaccharide) but differs from ι-carrageenan (2 sulfates/disaccharide). The conformational transition temperatures of furcellaran are, however, generally higher than those of κ-carrageenan under comparable conditions, and in mixtures of the two polysaccharides, separate transitions still occur, indicating that no mixed helices are formed. The observed ion sensitivity and cation-binding properties of furcellaran agree with predictions, by the PBCM, for a K-carrageenan with a reduced charge density.     

两种酶谱方法在κ-卡拉胶酶活性鉴定中的应用

对分离纯化后的κ-卡拉胶酶进行SDS-PAGE电泳和酶谱试验鉴定,比较κ-卡拉胶酶活性鉴定中的两种酶谱试验方法。一种是先进行非变性PAGE电泳,电泳完毕,将电泳胶与事先准备好的底物胶叠合在一起,35℃孵育液孵育。另一种是在此试验方法基础上进行改进,直接在电泳分离胶中加入0.2%底物,进行SDS-PAGE电泳,电泳结束,用TritonX-100将电泳胶复性,孵育液孵育。试验结果表明改进后的酶谱方法操作简单,具有良好的灵敏度和精确的定位。同时,利用改进后的酶谱方法对κ-卡拉胶酶活性进行了反应时间的研究,结果显示,反应时间为8 h时,降解条带最清晰,最有利于相似分子量酶的辨别。     

Preparation and characterization of poly(acrylic acid)-hydroxyethyl cellulose graft copolymer

Poly(acrylic acid) hydroxyethyl cellulose [poly(AA)-HEC] graft copolymer was prepared by polymerizing acrylic acid (AA) with hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) using potassium bromate/thiourea dioxide (KBrO(3)/TUD) as redox initiation system. The polymerization reaction was carried out under a variety of conditions including concentrations of AA, KBrO(3) and TUD, material to liquor ratio and polymerization temperature. The polymerization reaction was monitored by withdrawing samples from the reaction medium and measuring the total conversion. The rheological properties of the poly(AA)-HEC graft copolymer were investigated. The total conversion and rheological properties of the graft copolymer depended on the ratio of KBrO(3) to TUD and on acrylic acid concentration as well as temperature and material to liquor ratio. Optimum conditions of the graft copolymer preparation were 30mmol KBrO(3) and 30mmol TUD/100g HEC, 100% AA (based on weight of HEC), duration 2h at temperature 50°C using a material to liquor ratio of 1:10.     

Modifiable chemically crosslinked poli(κ-carrageenan) particles

Micron size κ-carrageenan hydrogel particles, p(CRN) from linear κ-carrageenan, were prepared via microemulsion polymerization using divinyl sulfone (DVS) as chemical crosslinker in a sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse miceller system. Magnetic field responsive (m-p(CRN)) composite particles were also synthesized by encapsulating magnetic ferrite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles together with linear κ-carrageenan within the AOT reverse micelle before the crosslinking reaction. The synthesized bare p(CRN) particles were further modified to produce positive charges on the particles (q-p(CRN)) by a quaternization reaction with an 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements and FT-IR analysis confirmed that particle sizes and charges were altered by chemical modification. Furthermore, a model drug, phenylephrine HCl was used for in vitro drug delivery studies to compare the effectiveness of modification of p(CRN) microgels by comparing bare p(CRN), m-p(CRN) and q-p(CRN) particles drug release capabilities in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at pH 7.4.     

Characterization and optimization of a new immobilized system of κ-carrageenan through interaction with carob bean gum and polyols

The optimum relationships of κ-carrageenan and carob bean gum were investigated in order to obtain an immobilization system with better compression resistance, trapping capacity, and storage stability, and less syneresis phenomenon, when compared to κ-carrageenan itself. With that objective, different concentrations of polyols (glycerol and propylene glycol) were added, because of their water-retention characterization in the containing system. In this way, an improved system with good compression resistance was obtained: 15 × 10⁻⁴ N/m² in modified κ-carrageenan gel without E. coli cells and 11 × 10⁻⁴ N/m² with Escherichia coli cells. In the modified κ-carrageenan gel, the syneresis phenomenon decreased. The enzymatic activity in the system was 18 U/g, which did not present a change over a storage period of six months.     

κ-卡拉胶邻苯二甲酰基化衍生物的抗氧化活性研究

对κ-卡拉胶进行酸降解得到三种卡拉胶低聚糖,并进一步与苯二甲酰基合成制得三种分子量分别为1450、2520和3430的κ-卡拉胶邻苯二甲酰衍生物(LA、LB和LC)。对产物进行IR表征并对其取代度(DS)进行测定,并检测了产物对羟基自由基.OH、DPPH自由基和过氧化氢的清除活性以及还原能力。结果表明,上述三种κ-卡拉胶邻苯二甲酰衍生物的抗氧化能力强弱顺序依次为:LC>LA>LB,这可能与衍生物的羟基含量、取代基团的性质以及取代度等因素有关。     

Production of 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose from κ-carrageenan using acid catalysts

This study describes acid-catalyzed production of 3,6-anhydro-D-galactose (D-AnG) from κ-carrageenan, a sulfated polysaccharide with an alternating backbone consisting of D-AnG and D-galactose (D-Gal). We analyzed four hydrolysis products (D-AnG, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), levulinic acid (LA), and D-Gal) and reducing sugar contents during acid hydrolysis. Acid screening was carried out using seven acid catalysts which have different acidity. The catalysts showing high D-AnG production and high selectivity were chosen for subsequent experiments. We selected four acid catalysts (HCOOH, CH₃COOH, HNO₃, and HCl), and studied the effects of catalyst acidity, hydrolysis temperature T, and reaction time t on the production of D-AnG and other hydrolysis products. The optimal condition for maximum production of D-AnG by κ-carrageenan hydrolysis was T = 100°C and t = 30 min using 0.2 M HCl. Under this condition, 2.81 g/L D-AnG (33.5% of theoretical maximum) could be obtained from 2% (w/v) κ-carrageenan. In general, the maximum values of D-AnG, D-Gal, and the sum of two by-products (HMF and LA) increased with the acidity of catalysts. However, HNO3 was an exception in that the maximum production levels of HMF and LA were unusually low compared with other acid catalysts. D-AnG was successfully purified from acid hydrolysates using silica gel chromatography and the product was nearly 100% pure. This effective D-AnG production could facilitate future studies on the conversion of D-AnG to biofuels and biochemicals.     

Interactions between κ-carrageenan and chitosan in nanolayered coatings—Structural and transport properties

The interactions between κ-carrageenan and chitosan, two oppositely charged polysaccharides, have been investigated through microcalorimetric and quartz crystal microbalance measurements. Microcalorimetric measurements show that κ-carrageenan/chitosan interaction is an exothermic process and that the alternate deposition of κ-carrageenan and chitosan results in the formation of a nanolayered coating mainly due to the electrostatic interactions existing between the two polyelectrolytes (though other types of interactions may also be involved). Quartz crystal microbalance measurements confirmed that the alternating deposition of κ-carrageenan and chitosan resulted in the formation of a stable multilayer structure. The κ-carrageenan/chitosan nanolayered coating, assembled on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) support, was characterized in terms of its surface (contact angle measurements) and gas barrier properties (water vapor and O₂ permeabilities) and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The water vapor permeability (WVP) and the oxygen permeability (O₂P) of the κ-carrageenan/chitosan nanolayers were found to be 0.020 ± 0.002 × 10⁻¹¹ and 0.043 ± 0.027 × 10⁻¹⁴ g m⁻¹ s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹, respectively. These results contribute to a better understanding of the type of interactions that play role during the construction of this type of nanostructures. This knowledge can be used in the establishment of an approach to produce edible, biodegradable multilayered nanostructures with improved mechanical and barrier properties for application in, e.g. food and biomedical industries.     

The immune regulation of κ-carrageenan oligosaccharide and its desulfated derivatives on LPS-activated microglial cells

Neurodegenerative disease involves an inflammatory response in the central nervous system characterized by an increase in inflammatory cytokines and activation of microglial cell. To reveal the immune regulation activity of κ-carrageenan oligosaccharides (KOS) on microglia cell activated by LPS and the relationship between the sulfate group content of KOS and its immune regulation activity, KOS was prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis. The degradation products of κ-carrageenan were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ESI-TOF-MS and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and the results indicated that the hydrolyzed products of the κ-carrageenase were κ-neocarrabiose-sulfate, κ-neocarrahexaose-sulfate and κ-neocarraoctaose-sulfate, respectively. Then desulfated derivatives of KOS (DSK) were obtained with DMSO-methanol-pyridine method. The effect of KOS and DSK on the viability of microglia cell activated by LPS was determined with MTT method. Griess assay and ELISA method were used to determine the contents of NO/NO(2-), TNF-α and IL-10 released by activated microglia cell, respectively. The results showed that KOS could inhibit the viability and content of NO, TNF-α and IL-10 released by LPS-activated microglia cell dose dependently. Compared with that of KOS, the inhibiting activity of DSK is weaker. So it could be concluded that KOS could protect microglial cell from being activated by LPS, and there was a positive relationship between the sulfate group content of KOS and its protection function.     

Facile synthesis of fluorescent polysaccharides: Cytosine grafted agarose and κ-carrageenan

New fluorescent polymeric materials were synthesized by grafting the nucleobase cytosine on to the backbone of agarose and κ-carrageenan, employing a rapid water based method under microwave irradiation using potassium persulphate (KPS) as an initiator. The emission spectrum of the modified agarose and κ-carrageenan recorded in aqueous solution (5 × 10⁻⁵ M) exhibited emission maxima (λ_em,max) at 348 nm by excitation at 266 nm. The emission intensity was enhanced by ca. 104% and 60% compared to that of pure cytosine solution of the same concentration. When the concentration of the pure cytosine solution is made equivalent to the concentration of the cytosine molar component (3.09 × 10⁻⁵) and (3.5 × 10⁻⁵) present in 5 × 10⁻⁵ M solution of modified agarose and κ-carrageenan, respectively, then ca. 143% and 81% enhancement in emission intensity was observed. The remarkable fluorescent activity of the agarose-cytosine derivative may have potential uses as sensor in various applications.     

NMR study on hydroxy protons of κ- and κ/μ-hybrid carrageenan oligosaccharides: experimental evidence of hydrogen bonding and chemical exchange interactions in κ/μ oligosaccharides

The hydroxy protons of κ- and κ/μ-hybrid carrageenan oligosaccharides have been studied by NMR spectroscopy in 85% H(2)O/15% acetone-d(6). Hydration and hydrogen bonding interactions in di- (κ), tetra- (κκ), hexa (κκκ), and octa- (κκκκ) κ-oligosaccharides and hexa- (κμκ), octa- (κμμκ), and deca- (κμμμκ) κ/μ-oligosaccharides have been investigated by measuring the chemical shifts, temperature coefficients, and chemical exchange of the hydroxy protons. These NMR parameters indicate that no strong and persistent intramolecular hydrogen bonds involving hydroxy protons stabilize the structure of κ-carrageenan oligosaccharides in aqueous solution. In the κ/μ-oligosaccharides, the presence of chemical exchange between OH3 of α-d-Gal-6-sulfate (D6S) and OH2 of β-d-Gal-4-sulfate (G4S) across the β-d-Gal-4-S-(1→4)-α-d-Gal-6-S linkage reveals the existence of a weak hydrogen bond interaction between the two hydroxyl groups. The smaller temperature coefficients of OH2_D6S and OH3_D6S indicate reduced hydration, interpreted as spatial proximity to the 4-sulfate group and O5 ring oxygen of the neighboring G4S residues, respectively. These first experimental results on the conformation of κ/μ-carrageenan oligosaccharides shine light on the potential role of "kinks" in the properties of the three-dimensional carrageenan gel network.     

Carrageenans, sulphated polysaccharides of red seaweeds, differentially affect Arabidopsis thaliana resistance to Trichoplusia ni (cabbage looper)

Carrageenans are a collective family of linear, sulphated galactans found in a number of commercially important species of marine red alga. These polysaccharides are known to elicit defense responses in plant and animals and possess anti-viral properties. We investigated the effect of foliar application of ι-, κ- and λ-carrageenans (representing various levels of sulphation) on Arabidopsis thaliana in resistance to the generalist insect Trichoplusia ni (cabbage looper) which is known to cause serious economic losses in crop plants. Plants treated with ι- and κ-carrageenan showed reduced leaf damage, whereas those treated with λ- carrageenan were similar to that of the control. In a no-choice test, larval weight was reduced by more than 20% in ι- and κ- carrageenan treatments, but unaffected by λ-carrageenan. In multiple choice tests, carrageenan treated plants attracted fewer T. ni larvae by the fourth day following infestation as compared to the control. The application of carrageenans did not affect oviposition behaviour of T. ni. Growth of T. ni feeding on an artificial diet amended with carrageenans was not different from that fed with untreated control diet. ι-carrageenan induced the expression of defense genes; PR1, PDF1.2, and TI1, but κ- and λ-carrageenans did not. Besides PR1, PDF1.2, and TI1, the indole glucosinolate biosynthesis genes CYP79B2, CYP83B1 and glucosinolate hydrolysing QTL, ESM1 were up-regulated by ι-carrageenan treatment at 48 h post infestation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of carrageenan treated leaves showed increased concentrations of both isothiocyanates and nitriles. Taken together, these results show that carrageenans have differential effects on Arabidopsis resistance to T. ni and that the degree of sulphation of the polysaccharide chain may well mediate this effect.     

The gelling of κ-carrageenan in light and heavy water

Gels of κ-carrageenan were prepared in H₂O and D₂O. Rheological measurements revealed that in heavy water the elastic modulus is substantially higher. From the rheological view point, this result indicates the formation of a higher number of physical-crosslinking points in the structure of the gel. These crosslinking points are mainly associated with the aggregation of the double-helix of the κ-carrageenan, which is enhanced in D₂O. The thermal stability of the gels in both solvents (relative to the sol-gel transition) was also investigated by using polarimetric measurements (to measure the relative fraction of helix-coil) and micro-differential scanning calorimetry (micro-DSC). The results obtained using these techniques are very consistent and allow us to propose a model to explain the differences for the gels formed in light and heavy water based on the degree of double-helix aggregation.     

Small-angle x-ray scattering of κ-carrageenan based systems: Sols,gels, and blends with carob galactomannan

Small-angle x-ray scattering using a synchroton x-ray monochromatic radiation was carried out to investigate the structure of different polysaccharides in aqueous medium: carob galactomannan, κ-carrageenan in the sol and in the gel states, and κ-carrageenan-carob galactomannan mixed systems. Experiments performed on a 0.2% carob galactomannan solutions confirmed that this polysaccharide behaved as a neutral polymer in a good solvent. For K-carrageenan in the / state, either in the sodium form or in the cesium form, a maximum in the scattering curve was evidenced. Position and height of this maximum changed with K-carrageenan concentration in close agreement with what is expected for wormlike polyelectrolyte in semidilute solution. In the case of k-carrageenan in the gel state, in the cesium form, scattering curves also exhibited a maximum at an intermediate Q value. The position of this correlation peak did not change with concentration while its intensity increased. This effect was ascribed to a packing of rodlike structures by analogy with a suspension of colloidal elongated particles. This local structure could be viewed as bundles of parallel double helices. Addition of carobgalactomannan in κ-carrageenan gels induced dramatic structural changes. As the galactomannan concentration increased, the correlation peak tended to vanish. In contrast, no change in the cross-sectional radius of gyration was noticed. This phenomenon suggested a screening effect of the galactomannan, resulting in a loss of the correlation between the κ-carrageenan double helices. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.