Microwave-assisted solubilization and solution properties of hyperbranched polysaccharide

A water-insoluble hyperbranched β-d-glucan (TM3a), extracted from sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium, was treated by microwave exposure to improve its solubility in water. This method led to complete dissolution of the TM3a polysaccharide in 0.02 wt % aqueous NaN₃. Various treatment periods were tested, and optimal conditions corresponded to 35 s at 765 W. The solution properties of TM3a in water were studied systematically by using size-exclusion chromatography combined with laser light scattering, viscometry, and dynamic light scattering at 25 °C. The dependences of intrinsic viscosity ([η]), radius of gyration (), and hydrodynamic radius (R_h) on weight average molecular weight (M_w) for TM3a in 0.02 wt % aqueous NaN₃ at 25 °C were found to be , , and in the M_w range from 8.20 × 10⁵ to 4.88 × 10⁶. The fractal dimension, ratio of , and the <r²>_o/M_w value of TM3a were calculated and discussed. The results indicated that TM3a existed in a sphere-like conformation in 0.02 wt % aqueous NaN₃. Furthermore, by using transmission electron microscopy, we observed directly the spherical molecules of TM3a. This work gave valuable information on improvement of solubility and chain conformation characterization of the water-insoluble polysaccharide in water.