Antithrombotic properties of sulfated wood-derived galactoglucomannans

Galactoglucomannans (GGMs) are water-soluble polysaccharides released and accumulated in process waters in the production of thermomechanical pulp. The general trend in the forestry industry is moving towards bio-refineries, for example utilizing these hemicelluloses as bioactive substances. At present, there is no industrial use of wood-derived mannans. In this study, GGMs extracted from thermomechanical pulp, as well as further carboxymethylated galactoglucomannans (CM-GGMs), were sulfated to increase their antithrombotic properties. The products were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and capillary electrophoresis. The carbohydrate composition and sulfur amounts were determined. The products' total charges were determined by polyelectrolyte titrations and their antithrombotic effect was measured based on the activated partial thromboplastin time. The results showed a significant increase in the antithrombotic effect of the sulfated galactoglucomannans from spruce wood and thus a potential new use for wood-derived mannans.