Bioadhesion of plant heteropolysaccharides to animal glycocalyx by polymer-typical chain entanglement

The plant-derived biopolymer pectin has been explored as sealant in lung surgery for several years. Adhesion to the lung surface is thought to be mediated by the interpenetration of pectin’s heteropolysaccharide chains with the sugar-chains on glycoproteins and glycolipids of the mesothelial glycocalyx. To improve rational design of carbohydrate-based sealants, a mechanistical understanding of the adhesion process is necessary. Therefore, we first established a method to preserve pectin ultrastructure by limiting hydration during sample preparation for electron microscopy. This allows us to demonstrate distinct morphologies of pectins extracted from various plant sources. The network-like morphology of lemon pectin - closely resembling glycocalyx structure - provoked us to explore the interaction between the two by applying a pectin film to the surface of murine lung in a surgical setting. The ultrastructural visualisation of the sealant-tissue assembly shows a tight association between the carbohydrate fibres, likely driven by their polymer-typical chain entanglement.