Employment of marine polysaccharides to manufacture functional biocomposites for aquaculture feeding applications

Mar Drugs. 2015 Apr 29;13(5):2680-93. doi: 10.3390/md13052680.

Abstract

In this study, polysaccharides of marine origin (agar, alginate and κ-carrageenan) were used to embed nutrients to fabricate biocomposites to be employed in animal feeding. The consistency of biocomposites in water has been evaluated up to 14 days, by several methods: swelling, nutrient release and granulometric analysis. Biocomposites were produced with varying percentages of nutrients (5%-25%) and polysaccharides (1%-2%-3%). All possible biopolymer combinations were tested in order to select those with the best network strength. The best performing biocomposites were those manufactured with agar 2% and nutrients 10%, showing the lowest percentage of water absorption and nutrient release. Biocomposites made of agar 2% and nutrients 10% were the most stable in water and were therefore used to analyze their behavior in water with respect to the release of quercetin, a phenolic compound with demonstrated high antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The leaching of such molecules in water was therefore employed as a further indicator of biocomposite water stability. Altogether, our results confirm the suitability of agar as a binder for biocomposites and provide a positive contribution to aquaculture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agar / chemistry
  • Animal Feed
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Aquaculture / methods*
  • Aquatic Organisms / chemistry*
  • Biopolymers / chemistry
  • Food
  • Phenol / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Quercetin / chemistry
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Biopolymers
  • Polysaccharides
  • Water
  • Phenol
  • Agar
  • Quercetin