Biosaccharide gum-1 is a biological polysaccharide that is obtained from brown algae by a fermentation process involving sorbitol. It is a polymer composed of α-L-fucose-1|->|3-α- D-galactose-1|->|3-α-D-galacturonic acid trisaccharides.

The name defines the structure of the molecule:

• Biosaccharide refers to a type of polysaccharide, a large molecule composed of many smaller sugar molecules connected together. The prefix "bio-" suggests that this polysaccharide is derived from a biological source.
• Gum-1 refers to the specific type of Biosaccaride. In the context of cosmetics and personal care products, "gum" often refers to a substance that can thicken or stabilize the product.

The synthesis process takes place in several stages:

• Fermentation. The first step is the fermentation of sorbitol, a type of sugar alcohol derived from plants, from a specific strain of bacteria. The bacteria used are often a strain of Pseudomonas, known for the production of polysaccharides.
• Production of polysaccharide. During the fermentation process, the bacteria metabolize sorbitol and produce a polysaccharide as a by-product. This polysaccharide is Biosaccharide Gum-1.
• Purification. The fermentation mixture is processed to extract the polysaccharide through steps such as filtration and centrifugation to separate the polysaccharide from the rest of the mixture. The polysaccharide can then be further purified through further steps such as precipitation, drying and grinding.
• Quality control. The final product is tested to ensure it meets the specifications required for use in cosmetics and personal care products. This includes control of molecular weight, viscosity, and purity.

It appears as a colourless liquid.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

It is included in cosmetic products with an anti-blistering and anti-wrinkle function.

• Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

It has a good fucose content. Fucose is interesting because abnormalities in structures containing fucose have been associated with various diseases, including cancer and some genetic diseases.

Biosaccharide gum-1 studies

UNII: BB4PU4V09H

CAS:     194237-89-3 

pH: 6.0 - 7.5

Viscosity: about 500 cps

Molecular weight: 1,000,000 g / mol

Synonyms:

• alpha-D-Galacturono-6-deoxy-alpha-L-galacto-beta-D-galactan
• Fucogel1000 ®
• Fucogel 1.5p®
• Fucogel 100BPC ®