*3.9. FTIR Spectroscopy*

The FTIR spectra were analyzed according to a protocol described elsewhere [41] using an FT-730 instrument (Horiba, Kyoto, Japan). A KBr pellet was prepared by mixing 1 mg of fucoidan with 50 mg of potassium bromide. The spectrum was read between 400 and 4000 cm<sup>−</sup>1.
