Interaction in polysaccharide solutions and gels

Recent advances from 2000 to 2003 in understanding the physicochemical properties of polysaccharide solutions and gels are reviewed in the present paper. Polysaccharides described are cellulose derivatives, hyaluronan, konjac glucomannan, xyloglucan, kappa-carrageenan, gellan gum, succinoglycan, xanthan, curdlan and schizophyllan. All these polysaccharides are important materials in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and related biomedical industries. Topics on conformational change and sol-to-gel transition of these polysaccharides are selected.