Synthesis, characterization and properties of carboxymethyl kappa carrageenan

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 86; no. 3; pp. 1167 - 1174
• Main Authors: Fan, Lihong, Wang, Libo, Gao, Song, Wu, Penghui, Li, Mingjia, Xie, Weiguo, Liu, Shuhua, Wang, Weiping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 30-08-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antibacterial activity; Antibacterial agents; antibacterial properties; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Anticoagulant activity; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Blood. Blood coagulation. Reticuloendothelial system; carbon; Carboxymethyl; Degree of substitution; Escherichia coli; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; kappa carrageenan; Medical sciences; Moisture absorbability and moisture-retention capacity; molecular weight; monochloroacetic acid; Natural polymers; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physicochemistry of polymers; stable isotopes; Staphylococcus aureus; Starch and polysaccharides; tissue repair; κ-Carrageenan; κ-Carrageenan; Carboxymethyl; Antibacterial activity; Degree of substitution; Moisture absorbability and moisture-retention capacity; Anticoagulant activity; moisture-retention capacity; Molecular structure; Anticoagulant; Experimental study; Biological activity; Thrombin time; Moisture absorbability and; Bactericidal effect; Structure processing relationship; Chemical modification; Activity concentration relation; Prothrombin time; Preparation; Moisture regain; Carboxymethylation; Oside polymer; Polyacid; Carrageenan; Antibacterial agent
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2011.06.010

► Carboxymethyl κ-carrageenan (CMKC) was synthesized by κ-carrageenan and ClCH2COOH. ► CMKC was characterized by 13C NMR, degree of substitution and molecular weight. ► The introduction of –CH2COO− conferred antibacterial activity onto κ-carrageenan. ► The product also exhibited good anticoagulant activity and moisture absorbability. ► CMKC would be an excellent wound healing material and substitute for heparin.
In order to develop a wound healing material possessing anticoagulant activity, antimicrobial activity and moisture absorbability and moisture-retention capacity, carboxymethyl κ-carrageenan (CMKC) was synthesized by the reaction of κ-carrageenan with monochloroacetic acid. The products were characterized by FT-IR, 13C NMR, degree of substitution (DS) and molecular weight. Anticoagulant activity of CMKC was investigated by APTT, TT and PT assays. The results showed that CMKC with a low DS promoted anticoagulant activity in comparison with κ-carrageenan, but as the DS further increased from 0.42 to 1.09, the activity decreased. Antibacterial activity was evaluated and we found that the introduction of carboxymethyl groups conferred antibacterial activity onto κ-carrageenan. Results indicated that CMKC exhibited good antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and the antibacterial activity of CMKC enhanced as the DS increased. CMKC displayed better moisture-absorption and water-retention ability than κ-carrageenan and as the DS increased, these properties of CMKC increased.