Pullulan is a polysaccharide produced by the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans and possesses some distinct properties such as excellent transparent film-forming ability, moisture absorptivity, water solubility, non-toxicity, and adhesivity. These properties allow pullulan to find potential applications in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and health care. This book presents the chemistry and properties of pullulan, along with the method of its production at the laboratory level. It discusses the structural engineering, processing methods, and versatile applications of pullulan, as well as highlights the challenges that still have to be overcome for its large-scale production. This unique book comprehensively summarizes many of the recent research findings on pullulan, contributed by leading experts in this research domain. It is a useful reference book for scientists, academicians, researchers, chemists, technologists, graduate and postgraduate students, and general readers who are interested in pullulan.

In the past few decades, marine organisms, including macroalgae and microalgae, have been extensively explored as potential sources of bioactive compounds with applications in various fields such as pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, cosmetics and foodstuffs. Marine polysaccharides, such as chitin/chitosan, ulvans, fucans, alginates and carrageenans, are biochemical compounds with several important properties such as anticoagulant and/or antithrombotic, immunomodulatory, antitumor, antilipidemic, hypoglycemic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Due to their biocompatible, nontoxic and biodegradable nature, marine polysaccharides offer a better alternative to be used in advancement of the biomedical field. This book focuses on marine polysaccharides; their derivatives, blends, composites and hydrogels; and their multifaceted applications in various fields. The book also discusses the various aspects of marine polysaccharides from the point of view of chemistry and related applications. It is an important reference for marine biotechnologists, natural product scientists, students, researchers and academicians working in the area of materials science, marine science and polymer chemistry.