This review explores the pharmacological potential of chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan as immunomodulatory agents targeting N-acetylgalactosaminidase (nagalase) to normalize immune responses. Nagalase, an enzyme produced by tumor and virus-infected cells, contributes to immune suppression by deactivating macrophage-activating factor. Both chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan, as representatives of glycosaminoglycans and heteropolysaccharides, exhibit significant potential in inhibiting nagalase activity, thereby restoring immune functionality. Chondroitin sulfate, a key component of the extracellular matrix, demonstrates anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerative properties by modulating nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathways and cytokine expression. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, enhances immune responses through macrophage and natural killer cell activation, while also exhibiting antiviral and anticancer activities. This dual action positions these compounds as promising agents for therapeutic interventions in chronic inflammatory conditions, cancer, and infectious diseases. The synergistic effects of chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan highlight their potential to address the root causes of immune dysregulation. This review aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action and explore the clinical applications of these compounds within the framework of innovative immunotherapeutic strategies. However, current evidence is limited by the predominance of preclinical studies and variability in experimental models. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to validate their efficacy for therapeutic use.

The aim of this work was to find out the optimal concentration of gelling agents or their optimal combination in the olive oil environment to stabilise the suspension of chondroitin sulphate. Purified olive oil was structured with rice bran wax or a combination of gelators – soy lecithin and sorbitan tristearate. Rice bran wax creates a viscous fluid without a gel structure. The combination of soy lecithin and sorbitan tristearate forms a gel structure from 5 wt.% of the concentration. The optimal ratio of soy lecithin and sorbitan tristearate was found to be 3:2 wt.%. Oleogel was immobile at temperatures below 8°C; on increasing the temperature, it changed to a viscous liquid. The oleogel environment opens new possibilities for creating oral route immunotherapy approaches such as glycoprotein-derived macrophage activating factor-derived immunotherapy.