Self-assembly of multifaceted marine polysaccharides for the smart delivery of bioactive compounds

Abstract

Marine polysaccharides have gained attention for their abundance, low cost, and beneficial properties, making them ideal for smart delivery systems in nanotechnology. Fucoidan (FU), a polysaccharide from brown algae, offers significant biological activities such as anticancer, anticoagulant, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Due to its acidic and negatively charged sulfate groups, its pH-sensitive nature makes it suitable for creating nanocomplexes with positively charged molecules for effective bioactive compound delivery. Chitosan (CH), derived from crustacean exoskeletons, is another biopolymer known for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, pH sensitivity, and mucoadhesive properties. It forms stable ionic complexes with polyanions, such as FU, under mild conditions. This chapter describes the experimental procedures for the self-assembly of FU and CH particles, aiming to develop pH-responsive delivery systems capable of protecting bioactive compounds during processing and digestion.