Cyanobacterium extracellular polymer, compositions and uses thereof

Abstract

The polysaccharide released from the unicellular cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. CCY 0110 exhibits low cytotoxicity and proves to be suitable for the delivery of macromolecules. The cyanobacterium extracellular polymer disclosed in the present subject-matter, namely a polysaccharide and more in particular an heteropolysaccharide, assembles with proteins into a new phase with gel-like behaviour and the release kinetics can be modulated (i.e., delayed) by adding divalent cations and/or also exhibits physical and chemical properties typical of a bioemulsifier or a bioflocculant.

1 . A polysaccharide released from  Cyanothece  sp. CCY 0110 for use in medicine, comprising the following residues: mannose, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, fucose, galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid, and peptides. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A method for delivering a drug to a patient comprising the polysaccharide of  claim 1  as a drug delivery vehicle and a drug, 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method of treating or preventing a wound, a mucous or skin infection disease, an inflammatory or allergic condition, a lipodermatosclerosis, a skin injury, a skin aging disease or dysfunction, or a bone or cartilage tissue damage in a subject comprising administering to the patient the polysaccharide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wound is an open wound, or   the wound is an acute wound, or   the wound is an infected wound, or   the wound is a surgical wound, or   the wound is a chronic wound selected from the group consisting of: ulcer of venous, arterial aetiology, mixed aetiology, decubitus ulcer, diabetic ulcer, and combinations thereof; or   the mucous or skin infection disease is selected from the from the group consisting of: mucositis, gingivitis, periodontitis, vaginitis, anal fissure, skin ulcer, otitis, dermatoses, and combinations thereof; or   the inflammatory or allergic condition is selected from the group consisting of: dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The polysaccharide of  claim 1 , wherein the weight of the polysaccharide varies between 1500-5000 KDa. 
     
     
         8 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the polysaccharide is topically or parenterally or orally administered to a subject once a day, twice a day, or three times a day. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polysaccharide of  claim 1  and an active ingredient. 
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical composition according to the previous  claim 15  comprising 0.01-2% (w/v) of polysaccharide. 
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 15  comprising a further polysaccharide, wherein the further polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of: cellulose; alginate; chitosan, gellan gum, arabic gum, dextrin, dextran, collagen, guar gum, carrageenan, xanthan gum, hyaluronan, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 15  wherein
 the active ingredient is: a protein, a drug, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antiseptic agent, an antipyretic agent, an anaesthetic agent, an anti-cancer agent, a therapeutic agent, or a mixture thereof. 
 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 15  wherein the composition is a topical form, an injectable form, or an oral form; and the topical form is a gel, a cream, or a lotion. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 15  further comprising a hydrogel or a plurality of hydrogels, wherein the hydrogel is selected from the group consisting of: a carbopol, a matrigel, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         24 . A pharmaceutical scaffold comprising the polysaccharide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         25 . A pharmaceutical viscosupplement comprising the polysaccharide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polysaccharide of  claim 1  as an emulsifier, or an emollient, or a gelling agent, or a lubricant, or a thickener, or a flocculant, or an encapsulating agent, or an ocular agent, or an anti-wrinkle agent, or a skin care agent or a hydrogel. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 26 , wherein the skin care agent is a firming agent, an anti-stretch mark agent, a conditioner, or a skin relaxant agent. 
     
     
         29 . A method of providing cosmesis to a subject comprising applying the polysaccharide of  claim 1  to the skin of a subject. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the drug is a protein.