Dextran (MW 40000) is a complex carbohydrate polymer made up of glucose molecules linked by glycosidic bonds. Highly soluble in water, dextran serves as a viscosity modifier or stabilizer in foods, paints, and adhesives. In medicine, it is often used as a plasma expander due to its ability to increase blood volume when administered intravenously. Additionally, it can be modified to develop dextran-based drug delivery systems, such as targeted nanoparticles.