Core-shell nanoparticles from fucoidan neoglycans: Synthesis, characterization with capability of glycomimetic ligands for Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacteriosis produced by Campylobacter jejuni is the main cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide and the binding of this pathogen to fucosylated glycoconjugates expressed on host cells is a determining factor for the infection. The aim of this work was to synthesize and characterize core-shell nanoparticles from fucoidan neoglycans as potential glycomimetic ligands for Campylobacter jejuni. Fucoidan oligosaccharides (OFuc) were obtained by mild hydrolysis of fucoidan. OFuc were separated by ultrafiltration, characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis and lectin recognition. The OFuc1 were then conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) by controlled glycation. The formation of fucosylated BSA (BSA-OFuc1) was confirmed by FTIR, increased surface charge, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and Ulex europaeus I lectin recognition. Afterwards core-shell BSA/BSA-OFuc1 nanoparticles were obtained by crosslinking. These nanoparticles presented hemispherical form with size and charge distribution of 312.1 +/- 3.2 nm and-34.4 +/- 0.3 mV respectively and were selectively recognized by C. jejuni by an ELISA-like lectin assay (ELLA). These results revel the potential of core-shell nanoparticles from fucoidan neoglycans as glycomimetic ligands for Campylobacter jejuni and open further opportunities to explore potential applications in the pharmaceutic industry.