Sclerotium rolfsii scleroglucan: The promising behavior of a natural polysaccharide as a drug delivery vehicle, suspension stabilizer and emulsifier

Investigation on the film-forming properties of lab fermenter scale produced scleroglucans from Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 201126

“…1), whilst EPS II showed a better swelling behavior. This was not surprising since previous studies concerning the dynamic rheological behavior and the hydrogel microstructural properties also found similarities between EPS I and LSCL commercial scleroglucan, at difference with EPS II (Viñarta et al, 2007). Several properties previously investigated for S. rolfsii ATCC 201126 scleroglucan aqueous solutions, such as viscosifying ability and stability of apparent viscosity against high temperatures revealed a better performance of EPS II vs. EPS I (Fariña et al, 2001).…”

“…Among them, the biopolymer excreted to the culture medium by Sclerotium rolfsii has been the focus of recent investigations as a hydrophilic polymer with great ability to form three-dimensional network structures or gel structures, even at low polymer concentrations (Viñarta, Franç ois, Daraio, Figueroa, & Fariña, 2007;Zupanèiè, 1998). Particular features of scleroglucan such as water solubility, biocompatibility, resistance to hydrolysis as well as the viscosifying ability even at high temperature (100 • C, 60 min), high ionic strength (up to 20% (w/v) NaCl) and over a wide range of pH (0-13) (Fariña, Siñeriz, Molina, & Perotti, 2001) make it attractive for a diversity of industrial applications.…”

“…Based on above mentioned attributes, the use of scleroglucan has been considered for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), applications in paper processing paints, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, quality improvement of foods, immune stimulating effects, and controlled drug delivery (Coviello et al, 2005;Franç ois, Rojas, Daraio, & Bernik, 2003;Franç ois, Rojas, & Daraio, 2005;Kulicke, Lettau, & Thielking, 1997;Survase, Saudagar, Bajaj, & Singhal, 2007;Viñarta, Molina, Figueroa, & Fariña, 2006;Viñarta et al, 2007).…”

“…Although different commercially available scleroglucans produced on the industrial level have been investigated for their application in drug delivery systems (Coviello et al, 2003;Franç ois et al, 2003Franç ois et al, , 2005Franç ois & Daraio, 2009), literature becomes scarce concerning the use of lab-scale or pilot-plant produced scleroglucans from recently isolated Sclerotium strains (Viñarta et al, 2007). Taking into account the advances on the knowledge of the physicochemical properties of S. rolfsii ATCC 201126 scleroglucan (Fariña et al, 2001;Fariña, Viñarta, Cattaneo, & Figueroa, 2009), the film-forming ability of different lab fermenter scale produced polysaccharides was examined based on different roomtemperature and freeze-thawing protocols for preparation.…”

Rheology of Laponite-scleroglucan hydrogels

“…Among biopolymers, scleroglucan and its derivatives appear to be particularly well suited for the formulation of hydrogel matrices for sustained drug release of bioactive molecules, because of their peculiar features such as high biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioadhesivity, chemical and thermal resistance and good mechanical properties (Coviello, Grassi, Lapasin, Marino, & Alhaique, 2003;Coviello et al, 2005;Grassi, Lapasin, Pricl, & Colombo, 1996;Grassi et al, 2009;Matricardi, Onorati, Coviello, & Alhaique, 2006;Viñarta, Franç ois, Daraio, Figueroa, & Fariña, 2007). In the field of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) scleroglucan is assessed as environmentally friendly viscosifying agent in virtue of its no toxicity and biodegradability.…”