ABSTRACT
Fucoidans are likely the sulfated polysaccharides whose biological properties are most promising in human health. For the past half-century, numerous studies have provided evidence of structure–activity relationships of fucoidan fractions extracted mainly from brown seaweed. The advances in physicochemical methods now make it possible to characterize the interactions involved in tissues and cells in fine detail. Diagnostic and therapeutic techniques have been developed at the molecular level, and the bioactive structures of fucoidan appear to be the tools of choice for a strategy of care oriented toward personalized medicine. The progress in glycochemistry still does not allow the effective synthesis of saccharide structures on a scale compatible with clinical use. However, from a commercial fucoidan extracted from Ascophyllum nodosum alga, we developed a low-molecular-weight fucoidan for molecular imaging and pathological vascular wall–targeted therapy. A biospecific contrast agent for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of atherothrombosis and heart ischemia is currently in the clinical evaluation phase.
