Polysaccharides of Pharmaceutical Importance
Start with the big picture
Polysaccharides are classified as homoglycans, which contain one type of monosaccharide, or heteroglycans, which contain two or more. The lesson surveys starch, cellulose, dextran, and inulin alongside plant gums, agar, carrageenan, alginate, pectin, and heparin. It relates features such as branching, molecular weight, substitution, and ionic interactions to practical behavior—for example, starch and cellulose derivatives in tablets, gums as viscous materials, and alginates in calcium-cross-linked hydrogels. It also introduces how polysaccharides are isolated, identified, assessed for quality, stored, and considered for safety. Together, these topics provide a foundation for understanding why different natural polymers serve distinct pharmaceutical roles.
What you'll learn
- Distinguish homoglycans from heteroglycans using representative examples.
- Describe structural features of major pharmaceutical polysaccharides.
- Relate molecular structure and physicochemical properties to pharmaceutical functions.
- Identify key applications of starch, cellulose derivatives, gums, gels, pectin, and heparin.
- Outline the lesson’s topics in isolation, quality control, stability, and safety.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
