Novel rapid method for the characterisation of polymeric sugars from macroalgae

Area of Science:

• Marine Biotechnology
• Carbohydrate Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Laminarins are key storage polysaccharides in brown seaweeds (Laminariales, Fucales).
• They possess beneficial nutraceutical properties, including anti-tumoural and anti-apoptotic activities.
• Laminarin structure and degree of polymerization (DP) vary significantly with species and environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, rapid, and inexpensive method for analyzing laminarins.
• To determine the degree of polymerization (DP) and molar mass of laminarins without hydrolysis.
• To enable wider accessibility of laminarins analysis for nutraceutical and research applications.

Main Methods:

• High-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD).
• Separation on a CarboPac PA-100 column using standard 1,3-β-d-gluco-oligosaccharides (DP 2-8) to establish a calibration curve.
• Analysis of laminarin oligomers in extracts from various brown seaweed species.

Main Results:

• A linear relationship was established between log10 DP and retention time.
• The HPAEC-PAD method provided rapid analysis of laminarins from macroalgal biomass.
• Results for degree of polymerization and molar mass correlated well with LC-ESI/MS and literature values.

Conclusions:

• HPAEC-PAD offers a straightforward and cost-effective approach for laminarins analysis.
• This method simplifies the characterization of laminarins, facilitating their study and application.
• The technique is applicable to diverse brown seaweed species and environmental conditions.