Depolymerization of fucoidan with endo-fucoidanase changes bioactivity in processes relevant for bone regeneration

Area of Science:

• Marine biotechnology
• Biochemistry
• Biomaterials science

Background:

• Fucoidans, polysaccharides from brown macroalgae, possess bioactivities relevant to bone regeneration.
• Current medical applications are limited by fucoidan heterogeneity and undefined structure-function relationships.
• Advanced extraction and processing are crucial for producing homogeneous fucoidans with tunable bioactivities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate low (LMW) and medium molecular weight (MMW) fucoidans using enzyme-assisted extraction and hydrolysis.
• To investigate the impact of LMW and MMW fucoidans on the bioactivity of bone stem cells.
• To assess the potential of fucoidanase hydrolysis in tailoring fucoidan bioactivity.

Main Methods:

• Enzyme-assisted extraction of fucoidans from Fucus evanescens.
• Enzymatic hydrolysis using Fhf1 fucoidanase to produce LMW and MMW fucoidans.
• In vitro assessment of fucoidan effects on bone stem cell production of pro-angiogenic molecules and prevascular structure formation.
• Evaluation of inflammatory response induced by MMW fucoidans in osteogenic cells (OEC).

Main Results:

• LMW and MMW fucoidans did not suppress pro-angiogenic molecule production by bone stem cells.
• LMW and MMW fucoidans did not impair in vitro prevascular structure formation.
• High concentrations of MMW fucoidans induced a pro-inflammatory response in OEC, unlike LMW fucoidans.
• High molecular weight fucoidan exhibited anti-angiogenic properties.

Conclusions:

• Fucoidanase hydrolysis can modify fucoidan bioactivity, potentially overcoming limitations of native fucoidans.
• Tailored fucoidans (LMW and MMW) may offer new avenues for bone regeneration therapies by supporting angiogenesis.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the structure-activity relationships and optimize fucoidan processing for medical applications.