Investigations of the architecture of tamarind seed polysaccharide in aqueous solution by different scattering techniques.

The architecture of tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) has been investigated by light scattering (LS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and synchrotron radiation scattering (SRSAXS). The experimental data show that TSP in aqueous solution consists of multi stranded aggregates, with a high degree of particle stiffness. The angular dependence of the scattered intensity is typical for wormlike chains. Data evaluation on the basis of this model yields a statistical Kuhn segment length lK = 150 nm. The cross sectional radius of gyration is estimated as Rgcs = 6.0 +/- 0.5 A, which is more than twice the value, published for single stranded polysaccharides. Correspondingly, the experimental value of the linear mass density, measured by LS, is about five times higher than the theoretical value calculated from the primary structure.