Levan derivatives, their preparation, composition and applications including medical and food applications

摘要

Novel derivatives of levan which is the beta -(2-6)polymer of fructose have been made with unique properties. The levan starting material has a much higher molecular weight than ordinary levan and is at least 1 x 106 Daltons and preferably an average molecular weight of about 2 x 106 Daltons, in a narrow distribution range. The novel levan derivatives are characterized as having predominant beta -(2-6) glycosidic linkages between the D-fructofuranoside monomeric units. For the water soluble derivatives, they have a high molecular weight on the order of about 500,000 Daltons. Among the preferred derivatives are sulfates, phosphates and acetates which can be present in an amount of from 0.2 to 3 sulfates, phosphates or acetates per fructose ring. These levan derivatives have many novel uses. Among them are as an inhibitor of smooth muscle cell proliferation, an anti-AIDS agent, as an excipient for use in making tablets, and as an agent to transform water into a gel. Other uses include wound healing for medical use, for dermatological use, for subcutaneous packing for medical or dental use, and for veterinary use in treatment of inflammed udders and mastitis in cattle. When the levan itself is cross-linked by epichlorohydrin it acts as a film former to form thin plastic films.