Functional activity features of lactoferrin-fucoidan complexes in model systems in vitro

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Materials Science
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae, exhibits diverse biological activities including anticoagulant and antioxidant properties.
• Fucoidan can form polyelectrolyte complexes with proteins, such as lactoferrin, a therapeutically significant protein.
• Understanding the properties of these complexes is crucial for developing novel therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physicochemical and functional characteristics of a fucoidan-lactoferrin complex.
• To assess how complex formation influences the biological activities of fucoidan and lactoferrin.
• To explore the potential of fucoidan-lactoferrin complexes in drug development and delivery systems.

Main Methods:

• Formation of fucoidan-lactoferrin complexes by mixing solutions at physiological pH.
• Characterization using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) for size and charge determination.
• Analysis of spectral changes using infrared (IR) spectroscopy.
• Assessment of antioxidant activity via the Fenton reaction.
• Evaluation of anticoagulant activity using activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
• Determination of inhibitory effects on luciferase activity in a luciferin-luciferase model system.

Main Results:

• The fucoidan-lactoferrin complex exhibited a negative charge and a hydrodynamic diameter of 382 nm.
• Complexation altered the IR spectrum of fucoidan, specifically affecting the sulfate group vibrations.
• The complex showed increased total antioxidant activity and reduced anticoagulant activity compared to fucoidan alone.
• Lactoferrin attenuated fucoidan's inhibitory effect on luciferase activity.

Conclusions:

• Fucoidan-lactoferrin complex formation allows for targeted modulation of the functional activities of these biopolymers.
• The study demonstrates the feasibility of creating functional complexes with potential therapeutic benefits.
• Fucoidan-lactoferrin complexes show promise for applications in novel drug development and advanced drug delivery systems.