Abstract

GOMEZ-RODRIGUEZ, Gabriel Humberto et al. Chemical modifications of galactomannans: synthesis and structure-function analysis. Biotecnia [online]. 2023, vol.25, n.2, pp.126-135.  Epub Aug 25, 2023. ISSN 1665-1456.  https://doi.org/10.18633/biotecnia.v25i2.1883.

Galactomannans (GM) are multifunctional polysaccharides made up of a β (1→4)-D-mannopyranose backbone with D-galactopyranose branches linked by α (1→6) glycosidic bonds. They are obtained from plants endosperm of seeds by different extraction methods. The chemical modification of polysaccharides has been used as strategy to change structural characteristics and functional properties, as solubility, polarity, ionic charge, bioactivity, and others. Reported modifications of GM includes hydrolyzation, esterification, etherification, and addition of functional groups as sulphates or phosphates producing GM derivates with biological and technological application potentials. Therefore, this review focuses on the synthetic routes and the analysis of the structures of chemically modified GM.

Keywords : galactomannans; chemical modifications; esterification; carboxymethyl etherification; addition of functional groups.