Extracellular polysaccharides of microalgae: chemotaxonomy and prospect interactions in nanostructured films

Abstract

The purpose of this study is analyzing the extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) released into the culture fo microalgae isolated from 22 units of water resource management of the São Paulo state's (UGRHI) to use them as characteristic chemotaxonomic approach. Microalgae species belonging to the Selenastraceae family (complex Akistrodesmaceae/ Selenestraceae/ Chlorellaceae/ Oocystaceae). The studies at genus/species of this group is knowning to a problematic when using the traditional taxonomy, and also genetic approaches, such as the 18S rDNA sequence. The use of chemotaxonomy characteristics, such as the EPS diversity associated with different taxonomic approaches, is likely to make plausible resolutions of a significant part of biodiversity of this group. For this purpose, the EPS should be isolated from species in different cultures, purified and analyzed to it's monomeric composition, number of fraction, the presence of sulfate or other radicals, protein, glycoside bonds and other possible variables. Thusm the EPS will reasonably characterized and purified and can be utilized in a study of nanostructured films. In this topic, the emphasis is investigate the interation between EPS with cell membrane models, represented by the Langmuir films, which is the first step to identifying possible applications of EPS system in controlled drug release and tissues engineering.