Biophysical functionality in polysaccharides: from Lego-blocks to nano-particles |
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Authors: | Attilio Cesàro Barbara Bellich Massimiliano Borgogna |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy |
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Abstract: | The objective of the paper is to show the very important biophysical concepts that have been developed with polysaccharides.
In particular, an attempt will be made to relate “a posteriori” the fundamental aspects, both experimental and theoretical,
with some industrial applications of polysaccharide-based materials. The overview of chain conformational aspects includes
relationships between topological features and local dynamics, exemplified for some naturally occurring carbohydrate polymers.
Thus, by using simulation techniques and computational studies, the physicochemical properties of aqueous solutions of polysaccharides
are interpreted. The relevance of conformational disorder–order transitions, chain aggregation, and phase separation to the
underlying role of the ionic contribution to these processes is discussed. We stress the importance of combining information
from analysis of experimental data with that from statistical–thermodynamic models for understanding the conformation, size,
and functional stability of industrially important polysaccharides. The peculiar properties of polysaccharides in industrial
applications are summarized for the particularly important example of nanoparticles production, a field of growing relevance
and scientific interest. |
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