Polysaccharides: Structure and Solubility

Abstract

Understanding the solubility of polysaccharides is extremely important for their food applications as most functions of polysaccharides including stability, emulsifying property, drug delivery, membrane forming properties, etc., are all achieved in aqueous solution. This chapter aims specifically at the mechanism of solubility of polysaccharides from the molecular level. General understandings of the solubility including definition, testing methods, and the solution behaviors were provided; the relationships between polysaccharide solubility and the structural features in terms of molecular weight, degree of branching, charging properties, chain flexibility, and the special groups were all discussed. With all the information provided, the molecular modification and further applications of polysaccharides in both food and nonfood areas could be promoted.

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Polysaccharides: Structure and Solubility
By Mark Q. Guo, Xinzhong Hu, Changlu Wang and Lianzhong Ai
DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.71570
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology » "Solubility of Polysaccharides", book edited by Zhenbo Xu, ISBN 978-953-51-3650-7, Print ISBN 978-953-51-3649-1, Published: November 29, 2017
Polysaccharides- Structure and Solubilit
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