Structure-guided design of fructan-based carbohydrate polymers: From molecular architecture to microbial recognition and gut-interface performance.

Authors

Shaojie Zhang, Qian Zhang, Lu Huang

Published in

Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 389. Pages 125632. Oct 01, 2026. Epub Jul 09, 2026.

Abstract

Fructans are structurally diverse carbohydrate polymers composed mainly of fructofuranosyl residues, and their functionality is governed by linkage pattern, degree of polymerization (DP), molecular-weight distribution, branching, terminal or internal glucose configuration, purity, and processing history. However, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, levan, graminan-type fructans, and neoseries fructans are still frequently discussed as broad ingredient categories, which obscures the structural determinants that control microbial recognition, fermentation kinetics, metabolite production, gut-interface responses, and food-material performance. This review deepens the structure-guided interpretation of fructan-based carbohydrate polymers by connecting defined architectures with preparation-induced structural editing, DP-resolved characterization, microbial enzyme systems, cross-feeding networks, SCFA profiles, mucus and epithelial barrier responses, immune tone, gut-organ axes, and processing functionality. Representative examples include DP-defined inulin fractions, high-molecular-weight levan, Ophiopogon-derived neoseries or polyfructan fractions, and mixed-linkage plant fructans. By treating linkage pattern, DP distribution, branching, glucose positioning and processing stability as design variables rather than descriptive labels, this review provides a polymer-level framework for interpreting fructan functionality and designing application-specific fructan materials. The review further proposes an evidence hierarchy and application-specific design rules to support the transition from broad prebiotic ingredient claims to precision carbohydrate polymer design.

PMID:
42586661
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Aug 2026.

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