Uses of saccharides from prasinococcales
The present invention relates to a sulphated heteropolymer polysaccharide obtainable from the order of Prasinococcales polysaccharide wherein the average molecular weight of the polysaccharide is between 1,000 and 40,000 kDa, or a fragment of for use in the treatment of skin irritation, wound repair, fibrotic conditions, keloid trait scarring or keloid scars, viral infection, as a biological carrier or scaffold or bio-lubricant; methods of preparing the same and uses thereof, such as in antiviral compositions.
1 . A method of treating viral infection, the method comprising:
administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising a polysaccharide having an average molecular weight of between 1,000 and 40,000 kDa, or fragment thereof having an average molecular weight between 5 and less than 1000 kDa, wherein the polysaccharide is a sulphated heteropolymer obtainable from the order of Prasinococcales, and the polysaccharide or fragment thereof has a sulphate content of 17 to 35% by weight.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide or fragment thereof comprises, by weight, about:
20 to 30% Glucose;
30 to 60% Galactose;
4 to 19% Arabinose;
2 to 6% Uronic acids; and
1 to 10% of other sugar units.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the other sugar units comprise at least one of:
rhamnose;
xylose; and
mannose.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide or fragment thereof has a sulphate content of about 20 to 30% by weight.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the average molecular weight of the polysaccharide is between 5,000 and 20,000 kDa, or the average molecular weight of the fragment is between 20 and 500 kDa.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide constitutes greater than 80% (by mass) of a dried product.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an aqueous solution;
and the composition is delivered to the skin, nasal, vaginal, or rectal surface by topical application.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the polysaccharide or fragment thereof is provided in an amount between 0.001% and 2% by weight (w/v) of the composition.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a gel, cream, or ointment.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one anti-oxidant.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the composition further comprises an antiseptic.
12 . A method for preparing a wound dressing material, wherein the wound dressing material comprises films of a polysaccharide; and the method comprises the steps of:
preparing an aqueous solution of between 0.01 and 2% by weight (w/v) of the polysaccharide having an average molecular weight between 1,000 and 40,000 kDa or fragment thereof;
mixing the aqueous solution with a plasticizing agent;
heating the mixture to a temperature of between 30° C. and 90° C.;
casting the solution to a thin sheet, optionally of between 2 and 5 mm, by wet or solvent casting; and
drying the thin sheets to form the polysaccharide films;
wherein
the polysaccharide having an average molecular weight of between 1,000 and 10 40,000 kDa;
the polysaccharide fragment having an average molecular weight between 5 and less than 1000 kDa;
the polysaccharide is a sulphated heteropolymer obtainable from the order of Prasinococcales; and
the polysaccharide or fragment thereof has a sulphate content of 17 to 35% by weight.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plasticizing agent is a polyol solution.
14 . A wound dressing material, comprising a polysaccharide having an average molecular weight of between 1,000 and 40,000 kDa, or a fragment thereof having an average molecular weight between 5 and less than 1000 kDa.
wherein
the polysaccharide is a sulphated heteropolymer obtainable from the order of 30 Prasinococcales, and the polysaccharide or fragment thereof has a sulphate content of 17 to 35% by weight; and
the wound dressing further comprising a silver sulfadiazine in an amount between 0.05 and 0.25% by weight (w/v).
15 . A method of preparing a carrier device, comprising incorporating a polysaccharide or fragment thereof into a carrier device wherein
the polysaccharide has an average molecular weight of between 1,000 and 40,000 kDa and the fragment thereof having an average molecular weight between 5 and less than 1000 kDa; 30;
the polysaccharide is a sulphated heteropolymer obtained from the order of Prasinococcales; and
the polysaccharide or fragment thereof has a sulphate content of 17 to 35% by weight.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method comprises complexing a solution of the polysaccharide with another polyelectrolyte to form a microparticle.
17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising the steps of:
providing the polysaccharide solution between 0.1 to 2% by weight (w/v); and
extruding the polysaccharide solution from a tip of a capillary tube, or narrow gauge needle, into a solution of poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) between 1 and 20% by weight, and having a molecular weight between 1 and 500 kDa.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the carrier device comprises a microparticle and the method further comprising a step of encapsulating an active pharmaceutical ingredient into the microparticle by pre-mixing with the polysaccharide solution.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the carrier device comprises encapsulation of the active ingredient into microparticles by pre-mixing with the polysaccharide solution and spray drying.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the carrier device comprises a microparticle and the method further comprising encapsulating a mammalian or bacterial cell into the microparticle by pre-mixing with the polysaccharide solution.