Specific β-glucans in chain conformations and their biological functions

The structures and functions of polysaccharides are not fully understood by the scientific community due to their complexity and the limitations of characterization methods. β-(1,3)-D-glucans with or without β-(1,6)-linked glucopyranans as branches (β-glucans), which are important polysaccharides, are widely involved in various biological activities. Moreover, β-glucans exhibit a strong ability to self-assemble into diverse nanocomposite biomaterials, showing great promise in the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of human diseases. Fungi are well known for their traditional edible and medical value, and β-glucans are one of the major active components in fungi. We have long been committed to the study of the structure and function of β-glucans from edible mushrooms, especially in the biological and food fields. Hence, research advances in the extraction, structural and conformational characteristics, and biological activities of β-glucans from three fungi, Auricularia auricula judae, Lentinus edodes and yeast, as typical representatives, were the focus of this review article. Additionally, as-fabricated β-glucan-derived nanocomposite biomaterials as effective therapeutic agents were addressed. This review provides a more comprehensive understanding of β-glucans and some valuable insights for research regarding other polysaccharides.