Search

• Preparation of self-assembled two opposites charged polysaccharide (fucoidan and chitosan). • Chitosan enhanced intestinal absorption of fuocidan in mice intestine. • Fucoidan are capable of increased protecting the intestinal epithelium from radiation damage. Fucoidan, a sulphated polysaccharide, plays a vital role in reducing cellular oxidative damage by exerting potential antioxidant activity. However, because of the negative surface charges of oligofucoidan, it shows poor oral intestinal absorption. To overcome this drawback, the oligofucoidan polysaccharides self-assembled with opposite charge based polysaccharides (chitosan) to form the chitosan-fucoidan polysaccharides (C 1 -F 3 P) nanoparticles (NPs) of 190–230 nm in size. The oligofucoidan and C 1 -F 3 P NPs were studied for their radioprotective property using mice exposed to 5 Gy radiation. The C 1 -F 3 P NPs prevents radiation induced lipid peroxidation and restores intestinal enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (p < 0.05) status. In addition, hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed the radioprotective effect of oligofucoidan and C 1 -F 3 P NPs by mitigating the loss of crypt and villi in the small intestine. Thus, the present study demonstrated that C 1 -F 3 P NPs can be considered as a radioprotective agent that can be used for the prevention and treatment of Gy-radiation-induced intestine injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]