α-Glucans (alpha-glucans) are polysaccharides of D-glucose monomers linked with glycosidic bonds of the alpha form.
The accumulation of glycogen Neisseria polysacchera and other bacteria are able to use in α-glucan to catalyze glucose units to form α-1,4-glucan and liberating fructose in the process.
An α-glucan coated starch molecule produced from Neisseria polysacchera was able to improve some of the physiochemical properties in comparison to raw normal starch, especially in loading efficiency of bioactive molecules.
[4] An α-glucan coating boasts protection from digestive environments, such as the small intestine, efficient encapsulation, and preservation rates.
This design promotes the growth of the development of α-glucan-based bio-materials and many implications for its usage in food and pharmaceutical industries.