title: Beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides as novel one-dimensional hosts for DNA/RNA, conjugated polymers and nanoparticles.
abstract: Beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides have triple-stranded helical structures whose sense and pitch are comparable to those of polynucleotides. We recently revealed that the beta-1,3-glucans could interact with certain polynucleotides to form triple-stranded and helical macromolecular complexes consisting of two polysaccharide-strands and one polynucleotide-strand. This unique property of the beta-1,3-glucans has made it possible to utilize these polysaccharides as potential carriers for various functional polynucleotides. In particular, cell-uptake efficiency of the resultant polysaccharide/polynucleotide complexes was remarkably enhanced when functional groups recognized in a biological system were introduced as pendent groups. The beta-1,3-glucans can also interact with various one-dimensional architectures, such as single-walled carbon nanotubes, to produce unique nanocomposites, in which the single-walled carbon nanotubes are entrapped within the helical superstructure of beta-1,3-glucans. Various conductive polymers and gold nanoparticles are also entrapped within the helical superstructure in a similar manner. In addition, diacetylene monomers entrapped within the helical superstructure can be photo-polymerized to afford the corresponding poly(diacetylene)-nanofibers with a uniform diameter. These findings indicate that the beta-1,3-glucans are very attractive and useful materials not only in biotechnology but also in nanotechnology. These unique properties of the beta-1,3-glucans undoubtedly originate from their inherent, very strong helix-forming character which has never been observed for other polysaccharides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Processes and Environments, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Hibikino, 1-1 Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, 808-0135, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uezu
authors.forename: Munenori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Numata
authors.forename: Teruaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shinkai
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D047071:beta-Glucans; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan