Dextran (MW 40000)

Dextran (MW 40000) is a complex carbohydrate polymer consisting of glucose molecules linked by glycosidic bonds. Dextran has excellent solubility in water, making it useful as a viscosity modifier or stabilizer in foods, paints and adhesives. In the biomedical field, dextran is often used as a plasma expander because of its ability to increase blood volume when administered intravenously. It can also be modified to create dextran-based drug delivery systems, such as targeted nanoparticles.