
The rising demand for marine-derived pharmaceuticals has firmly established seaweed oligosaccharides as next-generation therapeutic candidates, particularly in oncology and immunology. These low-molecular-weight glycans, derived from complex seaweed polysaccharides, exhibit superior bioavailability and potent biological activities, including direct anti-tumor effects and profound immunomodulatory capabilities. CD BioGlyco offers an end-to-end, specialized production service for high-purity seaweed oligosaccharide ingredients, engineered specifically for inclusion in drug development and high-value nutritional formulations. Leveraging decades of specialized expertise, we provide our clients with reliable, pharmaceutical-grade starting materials to accelerate their R&D pipelines.
Key Technologies
The efficacy of seaweed oligosaccharides is fundamentally linked to their precise structural characteristics—molecular weight, degree of sulfation, and monosaccharide sequence. Our technological platform focuses on ultra-precise control over depolymerization and purification to deliver ingredients with maximized bioactivity and batch-to-batch consistency.
Enzymatic Depolymerization
We employ proprietary, highly specific marine-derived glycoside hydrolases to cleave the parent polysaccharides (like fucoidans or carrageenans) into oligosaccharides of targeted molecular weights. Unlike harsh chemical hydrolysis, enzymatic methods offer exceptional specificity, avoiding undesirable byproducts and ensuring homogeneous low-molecular-weight fractions with preserved structural integrity and maximized biological potential.
Advanced Membrane Filtration
To achieve precise molecular weight control and streamline initial purification, we utilize sophisticated ultrafiltration and nanofiltration systems. These membrane technologies allow for highly effective separation based on size, concentrating the target oligosaccharide fractions while simultaneously removing residual proteins, inorganic salts, and high-molecular-weight contaminants.
High-Resolution Chromatography
The final purification step employs a combination of ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). IEC is critical for fractionating oligosaccharides based on charge (e.g., degree of sulfation), while SEC provides the final polishing for narrow molecular weight distribution, yielding ingredients of 98% purity or higher.
Seaweed Oligosaccharide: Unleashing the Next Generation of Immune-Boosting Therapeutics
CD BioGlyco specializes in the targeted production of seaweed oligosaccharides known to exhibit potent anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects, positioning them as essential components for innovative drug development.
- Oligosaccharides Exhibiting Bioactivity
- Fucoidan oligosaccharides (FOs): Primarily derived from brown seaweeds (Laminaria, Undaria). Low-molecular-weight FOs are highly valued for their ability to promote cancer cell apoptosis, inhibit angiogenesis, and activate immune cells, specifically natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs).
- Carrageenan oligosaccharides (COS): Derived from red seaweeds, including λ-, κ-, and ι-carrageenan. Specific low-molecular-weight λ-COS fractions have demonstrated significant immunopotentiating effects, stimulating macrophage phagocytic capacity and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), which indirectly lead to tumor inhibition.
- Ulvan oligosaccharides (UOs): Extracted from green seaweeds (Ulva species). These sulfated rhamnan compounds have been shown to possess anti-proliferative and antioxidant properties, alongside an ability to modulate immune responses, making them strong candidates for combination therapies.
- Roles in Anti-tumor and Immunomodulatory Drugs
- Raw Materials/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs): For direct use as the primary therapeutic compound in novel anti-cancer or immuno-stimulatory drugs. Their direct mechanisms, such as inducing cancer cell death or blocking metastatic pathways, validate their potential as potent APIs.
- Excipients and Adjuvants: Due to their excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, and ability to modulate the immune system, these oligosaccharides are ideal excipients in drug formulations. They can function as adjuvants in chemo- or immunotherapy by boosting the host immune response against the tumor, potentially enhancing the efficacy and reducing the immunosuppressive side-effects of traditional chemotherapy drugs. They also serve as effective materials for drug delivery systems, encapsulating and targeting other therapeutics.
Workflow

Publication Data
DoI: 10.3390/nu15092044
Journal: Nutrients
IF: 5.0
Published: 2023
Results: This study explores λ-COS's anti-gastric carcinoma role via immunomodulation. λ-COS showed no direct cytotoxicity to BGC-823 gastric cancer cells in vitro, but conditioned medium from λ-COS-pretreated THP-1-derived macrophages dose-dependently inhibited BGC-823 growth, induced apoptosis, and activated the Par-4 pathway—mediated by λ-COS-enhanced macrophage phagocytosis and TNF-α/IFN-γ secretion. In BGC-823 xenografted BALB/c mice, λ-COS dose-dependently suppressed tumors, improved immune function, and when combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), synergistically boosted anti-tumor effects while alleviating 5-FU-induced immunosuppression. Histology confirmed λ-COS disrupted tumors and promoted inflammation; Alcian blue staining showed its liver distribution. Overall, λ-COS acts via immunomodulation, promising as a chemo-adjuvant for gastric carcinoma.
Fig.1 The expressions of cytokines and apoptosis-related proteins are enhanced by λ-COS. (Tang, et al., 2023)
Applications
Targeted Drug Delivery Systems
The unique chemical structure allows these oligosaccharides to be engineered into nanoparticle carriers or hydrogels. They encapsulate anti-cancer drugs, providing targeted delivery, potentially increasing drug concentration at the tumor site while minimizing systemic toxicity.
Novel Biological Response Modifiers
Used to develop next-generation novel biological response modifiers that directly modulate cytokine production and cellular immunity, opening avenues for new cancer immunotherapies that harness the body's own defenses.
Combination Chemotherapy Agent Development
As adjuvants, they are co-administered with conventional chemotherapeutics. Their immune-boosting and anti-metastatic actions synergize with chemo-agents, improving therapeutic efficacy, reducing drug resistance, and mitigating treatment-induced immunosuppression.
Advantages
Unrivaled Purity and Defined Structure
We guarantee production to exceed 98% purity, with a tightly controlled molecular weight distribution. Our proprietary high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characterization methods ensure that you receive highly defined, structurally validated oligosaccharides, eliminating the variability common in less refined extracts.
Custom Bioactivity-Driven Fractionation
Our service is not generic; it is bioactivity-driven. We use customized depolymerization and fractionation protocols to isolate the specific oligosaccharide fraction exhibiting the highest documented anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity.
Proven Success in Glycan Innovation
Our expertise is backed by years of collaboration with leading biopharmaceutical firms. We have successfully supplied complex glycan ingredients used in numerous programs globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of purity can I expect for my oligosaccharide ingredient?
We guarantee a minimum purity of 98% for target oligosaccharide fractions. Our rigorous chromatographic purification methods and structural analysis ensure you receive a consistent product that minimizes variability in your downstream studies.
How is the bioactivity of the final ingredient confirmed?
While we provide the defined structure and molecular weight, we also offer custom in vitro assays (e.g., macrophage activation, cytokine secretion, or cancer cell proliferation assays) upon request to confirm the anti-tumor or immunomodulatory potency of your specific batch.
Can you produce oligosaccharides from a specific type of seaweed I provide?
Absolutely. We offer flexible production models. While we maintain a reliable supply chain of standard species, we can apply our core technologies to client-provided, verified raw marine biomass to meet unique research needs.
Customer Review
"We approached CD BioGlyco for a challenging project requiring grams of a specific, low-molecular-weight fucoidan oligosaccharide for our novel immune checkpoint inhibitor formulation. The purity level they delivered was exceptional, and their detailed NMR report allowed us to bypass in-house characterization."
- Dr. J.L., Chief Scientific Officer, Immune-Oncology
"We needed a high-purity ulvan oligosaccharide for a new immune-boosting supplement. CD BioGlyco provided not just the ingredient, but also critical HPLC data validating the low molecular weight that is key to absorption. The product's stability and consistent batch purity allowed us to confidently proceed with our pilot production run with zero delays."
- A.R., Director of R&D
"The λ-carrageenan oligosaccharide fraction we received from CD BioGlyco was structurally uniform and delivered with impressive consistency across multiple large batches. They are true experts in scaling complex marine glycans."
- M.T., Head of Process Development
Associated Services
CD BioGlyco is your dedicated partner for producing high-purity, structurally defined Anti-tumor and Immunomodulation Seaweed Oligosaccharide Ingredients. Our unique combination of proprietary enzymatic depolymerization, advanced purification technologies, and decades of glycoscience expertise ensures that your high-value ingredient is delivered with unparalleled precision. Please feel free to contact us for detailed consultations, technical data, and tailored project proposals.
Reference
- Tang, M.; et al. The antitumor potential of λ-carrageenan oligosaccharides on gastric carcinoma by immunomodulation. Nutrients. 2023, 15(9): 2044. (Open Access)