Alternan polysaccharide that is functionalized with nitrogen groups that can be protonated, or with permanently positively charged nitrogen groups

1. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide, comprising nitrogen groups that can be protonated or permanently positively charged nitrogen groups as functional groups, wherein said nitrogen groups are bound to the alternan polysaccharide via an ether bridge, wherein the functionalized alternan polysaccharide comprises structures of Formula (III):

wherein:

R 1 is a hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 100 carbon atoms that may comprise one or more heteroatoms,

R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are each a hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 20 carbon atoms that can comprise one or more heteroatoms, wherein R 2 , R 3 and R 4 can be the same or different, wherein the residues R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 can be selected independently from each other in multiple —R 1 N + R 2 R 3 R 4 groups,

and A − is an anion, and

the functionalized alternan polysaccharide further comprises one or more of the groups of Formula (V):

wherein:

the group of Formula (V) is bound to the alternan polysaccharide via an ether bridge,

n is an integer from 1 to about 30,

R 5 and R 6 are selected from a hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, wherein R 5 and R 6 can have the same or different meaning in the —(CHR 5 —CHR 6 O)— units and each R 5 and R 6 in a —(CHR 5 —CHR 6 O)— unit can be selected independently from each R 5 and R 6 in another —(CHR 5 —CHR 6 —O)— unit.

2. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen groups are selected from primary amine groups, secondary amine groups, tertiary amine groups, quaternary amine groups or imino carbamate groups.

3. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , comprising structures of Formula (I):

wherein

R 1 is a hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 100 carbon atoms, that may comprise one or more heteroatoms,

R 2 and R 3 are each a hydrogen or hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 20 carbon atoms that can comprise one or more heteroatoms, wherein R 2 and R 3 can be the same or different,

or R 2 and R 3 can form a 4-8 membered heterocyclic ring together with the nitrogen to which they are bound, wherein said ring can be condensed with one or more additional isocyclic or heterocyclic rings, wherein the nitrogen can be bound to one of the R 2 or R 3 groups by way of a double bond and then bears a positive charge,

wherein the nitrogen in Formula (I) is optionally protonated, and

wherein the residues R 1 , R 2 and R 3 can be selected independently from each other in multiple —R 1 NR 2 R 3 groups.

4. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , comprising structures of Formula (II):

wherein R 2 and R 3 are each a hydrogen or hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 20 carbon atoms that can comprise one or more heteroatoms, wherein R 2 and R 3 can be the same or different, or R 2 and R 3 can form a 4-8 membered heterocyclic ring together with the nitrogen to which they are bound, wherein said ring can be condensed with one or more additional isocyclic or heterocyclic rings, wherein the nitrogen can be bound to one of the R 2 or R 3 groups by way of a double bond and then bears a positive charge,

n is an integer from 1 to about 30,

R 5 and R 6 are selected from H or a hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, wherein R 5 and R 6 can have the same or different meaning in the

—(CHR 5 —CHR 6 O)— units and each R 5 and R 6 in a —(CHR 5 —CHR 6 O)— unit can be selected independently from each R 5 and R 6 in another —(CHR 5 —CHR 6 —O)— unit,

R 7 is a hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 10 carbon atoms that can comprise one or more heteroatoms,

wherein the number n and the residues R 2 , R 3 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 can be selected independently from each other in multiple

—[CHR 5 —CHR 6 —O] n R 7 NR 2 R 3 groups,

and wherein the nitrogen in Formula (II) is optionally protonated.

5. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , comprising structures of Formula (IV):

wherein

n is an integer from 1 to about 30,

R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are each a hydrogen or hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 20 carbon atoms that can comprise one or more heteroatoms, wherein R 2 and R 3 can be the same or different,

or R 2 and R 3 can form a 4-8 membered heterocyclic ring together with the nitrogen to which they are bound, wherein said ring can be condensed with one or more additional isocyclic or heterocyclic rings, wherein the nitrogen can be bound to one of the R 2 or R 3 groups by way of a double bond and then bears a positive charge,

R 5 and R 6 are selected from H or a hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, wherein R 5 and R 6 can have the same or different meaning in the

—(CHR 5 —CHR 6 O)— units and each R 5 and R 6 in a —(CHR 5 —CHR 6 O)— unit can be selected independently from each R 5 and R 6 in another —(CHR 5 —CHR 6 —O)— unit,

R 7 is a hydrocarbon group with 1 to about 10 carbon atoms that can comprise one or more heteroatoms,

and wherein the number n and the residues R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 can be selected independently from each other in multiple

—[CHR 5 —CHR 6 —O] n R 7 N + R 2 R 3 R 4 groups,

and A − is an anion.

6. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , wherein the functionalized alternan polysaccharide has an average molar weight Mw in the range from more than 3,000 g/mol to 60,000,000 g/mol.

7. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , wherein the functionalized alternan polysaccharide has an average number of functionalized hydroxyl groups of 0.02 to 3 per anhydroglucose unit.

8. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , wherein the functionalized alternan polysaccharide is crosslinked.

9. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , wherein the functionalized alternan polysaccharide further comprises anionic groups.

10. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , wherein the functionalized alternan polysaccharide is water-soluble.

11. Functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 , wherein the functionalized alternan polysaccharide is not micro-structured.

12. A cosmetic composition, pharmaceutical composition, wound protectant, ultrasound gel, coating agent, cleaning or laundry additive, sizing agent for textile fibers, simplex creator, paper treatment or manufacturing agent, water treatment agent, drilling fluid, foodstuff, food additive, adsorbent, biocide, encapsulant, agrarian composition, complexing agent, emulsifier, surfactant, viscosity regulator, binding agent, adhesive, protective colloid, dispersion agent, ion exchanger, water softener, coagulant, drying additive, anti-condensation additive or drilling additive, comprising or consisting of a functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 .

13. Method for functionalizing alternan polysaccharide with nitrogen groups that can be protonated or permanently positively charged nitrogen groups, wherein the alternan is reacted in a liquid reaction medium with a functionalizing agent that comprises such a nitrogen group with the addition of an alkaline component to produce a functionalized alternan polysaccharide according to claim 1 .

14. Method according to claim 13 , wherein the liquid reaction medium exclusively or primarily comprises an alcohol.