The present invention relates to a purified, easily produced
poly-.beta.-1.fwdarw.4-N-acetylglucosamine (p-GlcNAc) polysaccharide
species. The p-GlcNAc of the invention is a polymer of high molecular
weight whose constituent monosaccharide sugars are attached in a
.beta.-1.fwdarw.4 conformation, and which is free of proteins, and
substantially free of single amino acids, and other organic and inorganic
contaminants. In addition, derivatives and reformulations of p-GlcNAc are
described. The present invention further relates to methods for the
purification of the p-GlcNAc of the invention from microalgae, preferably
diatom, starting sources. Still further, the invention relates to methods
for the derivatization and reformulation of the p-GlcNAc. Additionally,
the present invention relates to the uses of pure p-GlcNAc, its
derivatives, and/or its reformulations.
