Innovative Prospects for The Creation of Medical Products Based on The Polysaccharide Matrix

The presented material considers the possibility of combining sparingly soluble
polysaccharides with plant polysaccharides to increase the absorption of drugs with
low bioavailability, as biologically active substances they can serve as a targeted carrier
for the delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents, as well as enzymes, nucleic acids,
vitamins or hormones, to certain cells, in particular hepatocytes (parenchymal liver
cells). A method for preparing a composition of arabinogalactan and chitosan succinate
is described, examples of its practical use in medicine, veterinary medicine and animal
husbandry are given.


Opinion
Long-term studies of polysaccharides of higher plants have shown that they have biological activity, and therefore can be widely used [1][2][3]. Most representatives of galactane-containing polysaccharides of higher plants are immunomodulators that activate the reticuloendothelial system (RES), increase the phagocytic index. Biological activity largely depends on the features of the fine structure of macromolecules, i.e., on the structure of all side chains, their location along the main chain, the conformation of macromolecules, and the mechanism of aggregate formation. A certain role in the manifestation of biological activity belongs to the localization of the polysaccharide in the plant cell [1]. It was shown [3][4][5][6] that hypertension from western larch can serve as a targeted carrier for the delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic agents, as well as enzymes, nucleic acids, vitamins or hormones, to certain cells, in particular hepatocytes (parenchymal cells liver. In model experiments, hypertension from larch showed high membranotropy [7]. Due to this, it can be used to increase the absorption of other drugs characterized by low bioavailability [2,5,7]. In this case, a complex is formed between the delivered agent and arabinogalactan capable of interacting with the asialoglycoprotein receptor of the cell [8]. The reason for the interaction of arabinogalactan with these receptors may be the high branching of the structure of AH macromolecules and the presence of numerous terminal galactose and arabinose groups in them [1].
The conjugates of AH and its degradation products with various drugs can find various medical applications [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Arabinogalactan is a promising synthon capable of reacting with mono-and bifunctional reagents. This paves the way for new commercially available water-soluble preparations. Their properties will be determined both by the properties of the polysaccharide itself and the introduced functional groups. Chemical modification products of AH are of significant interest both for medicine and for various other industries. There is evidence that chemical modification of AG causes a noticeable decrease or disappearance of the bioactivity of polymers [16,17] Given the conformational mobility of AG macromolecules, the dimensions of this space can vary, contributing to the formation of supramolecular complexes with a wide range of substances [5].
Chitosan is a good gelling agent and emulsifier. Its ability to form complex compounds with proteins and lipids has been proven.
The presence of high electron density hydroxyl groups with lone electron pairs along the molecule leads to the formation of hydrogen bonds with other biopolymer compounds; first of all, strong complexes with lipids and proteins are formed in which chitosan acts as a nucleus [6]. Due to the positively charged molecules and the properties of the sorbent, chitosan binds strongly to negatively charged molecules located on the membranes of microbes (teichoic acids, phosphate and carboxylic groups). Fixation of membranes paralyzes their work, especially the transport of ions, nutrients, which leads to increased sensitivity of pathogens to various antibacterial substances. Useful and important features of chitosan are that it combines with any living tissue, has mucoadhesive properties, decomposes and opens up tight joints between cells.
By using these properties, drug delivery through the mucous membrane can be significantly improved. Zeaxanthin is one of the common antioxidants and pigments of the carotenoid group. Zeaxanthin is one of two carotenoids that are found in the retina (macular zone). As an antioxidant, it is able to neutralize free radicals that oxidize and damage the retina, which means it prevents the development of cataracts and serves as a preventive measure for age-related macular degeneration. One of the main limitations of the use of zeaxanthin in pharmacology and the food industry is its extremely low solubility in water.
It was found that complexation with more than 1000 times has a wide range of biologically active substances, has a fairly wide scope due to its high bioavailability, and the absence of side effects, which significantly expands the arsenal of using biologically active compositions in combination with a polysaccharide matrix.