This book reviews the evidence supporting the influence of plant fibers on our daily life by either having impacts on our nutrition or improving processed foods for human and animal feeding. By bringing new information and updating existing scientific data, this book will also be a consistent source of information for both professional and non-professionals that are involved in food science and technology, nutrition, and even medical sciences related to human health and well-being.

Contents:

Progress in structural characteristics of functional polysaccharides; supramolecular structure of polysaccharides; x-ray diffraction study of polysaccharides; hydrogen bonds in various cellulose derivatives; computer modelling of polysaccharide-polysaccharide interactions; bacterial polysaccharides related to mammalian structures; bacterial polysaccharides - components; screening of polysaccharide-producing microorganisms, factors influencing the production, and recovery of microbial polysaccharides; hemicelluloses - structure and properties; characterization and properties of hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan); agar; pectin; macromolecular properties of xanthan; inclusion complexes of the cyclodextrins; synthetic glycopolymers - new tools for glycobiology; stereoselective syntheses using carbohydrates as carriers of chiral information; structural complexes of chitosan; polysaccharides as support for enzyme and cell immobilization; bioencapsulation of living cells by entrapment in polysaccharide gels; hydrothermal degradation and fractionation of saccharides and polysaccharides; conversion of cellulosic feedstocks into useful products; polysaccharide surfactants - structure, syntheses and surface-active properties; structure and properties of membranes from polysaccharide derivatives; cellulose derivatives as liquified-crystalline phase; enzymatic hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose; acid hydrolysis of hemicellulose and cellulose - theory and applications; polysaccharides in peat - biotechnological applications; polysaccharides from biomass via thermomechanical process; surface modification of polysaccharides under cold plasma conditions.