Preparation of glycogen-based polysaccharide materials by phosphorylase-catalyzed chain elongation of glycogen.

Facile preparation of glycogen-based polysaccharide gel materials was carried out by phosphorylase-catalyzed chain elongation of glycogen using glucose 1-phosphate (Glc-1-P). The resulting solution after the enzymatic reaction gradually turned into a hydrogel form, which was probably caused by formation of junction zones based on the double helix structure of the elongated amylose chains among the glycogen molecules. Furthermore, lyophilization of the hydrogel resulted in formation of a glycogen-based xerogel. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels and xerogels were affected by the amount of glycogen and the Glc-1-P/glycogen ratio in the feed for the enzymatic reaction. The xerogel was also subjected to film formation and re-hydrogelation with appropriate techniques.