Applications
Carrageenan is used to suppress immune responses in vivo and in vitro, and its mechanism is thought to involve selective cytopathic effects on macrophages. Because α-, κ- and λ-carrageenan have different degrees of sulfation,differences in their protective, antiviral and immunosuppressive activities can be compared. Carrageenan can be used to develop biomaterials and encapsulated carriers for drug delivery.