Viscous Behaviour and Interactive Nature of Indigenous Legume Seed Galactomannas and Biodegradable Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

Galactomannans are the seed polysaccharides also known as seed gums, mostly isolated from the legume seed endosperm. Galactomannans can easily mix with xanthans by physical association, exhibits synergistic effect and form complex mixtures due to their entangle nature in deferent ratios. Polysaccharides having these properties make them versatile materials which are useful in different biomedical and food applications as additives, thickening, gelling agents, emulsifiers and stiffeners. Biopolymer-based colloidal particles have potential application in drug and gene delivery.

Galactomannans extracted from indigenous legume seed endosperm from Adenanthera pavonna L. and Mimosa pudica L. and investigated during 2015-2021 for different aspects i.e. viscous behaviour and interaction properties, complex formation with other polysaccharide like xanthan and preparation and physical characterisation of galactomannan-based nanoparticles obtained by covalent cross-linking with genipin.

The intrinsic viscosity of A. pavonna and M. pudica measured also compared with the commercial polysaccharide LBG (Locust Bean gum). Prepared small spherical shaped nanoparticles of diameters ~33 to 67 nm and negative zeta potential of ~-9.2 - 19.0 mV were obtained. We suggest that the nanoparticles form due to the covalent crosslinking effect of genipin on the residual protein fraction of both galactomannans. The biodegradable nanoparticles offer to be a potential new platform for the oral delivery of drug and nutraceuticals.