Progress in preparation of thiolated, crosslinked, and imino-chitosan derivatives targeting specific applications

Surface defects due to bacterial residue on shrimp shell

The changes in the surface chemistry and morphological structure of chitin forms obtained from shrimp shells (ShpS) with and without microorganisms were evaluated. Total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), estimated Pseudomonas spp. and Enterococcus spp. were counted in Shp-S by classical cultural counting on agar medium, where the counts were 6.56 ± 0.09, 6.30 ± 0.12, and 3.15 ± 0.03 CFU/g, respectively. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)/Energy dispersed X-ray (EDX) were used to assess the surface chemistry/functional groups and morphological structure for ChTfree (non-microorganism), and ChTmo (with microorganisms). ChTfree FTIR spectra presented a detailed chitin structure by OH, NH, and CO stretching vibrations, whereas specific peaks of chitin could not be detected in ChTmo. Major differences were also found in SEM analysis for ChTfree and ChTmo. ChTfree had a flat, prominent micropore, partially homogeneous structure, while ChTmo had a layered, heterogeneous, complex dense fibrous, and lost pores form. The degree of deacetylation was calculated for ChTfree and ChTmo according to FTIR and EDX data. The results suggest that the degree of deacetylation decreases in the presence of microorganisms, affecting the production of beneficial components negatively. The findings were also supported by the molecular docking model.

Functionalizing natural polymers to develop green adsorbents for wastewater treatment applications

The present study provides an overview of scientific developments made in the last decade in the field of green adsorbents focusing on the modifications in natural polymers and their applications such as, wastewater treatment, and ion exchange. For this purpose, an introduction to the various methods of modifying natural polymers is first given, and then the properties, application, and future priorities of green adsorbents are also discussed. Methods of modification of natural polymers under homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions using modifiers with different properties are also described. Various methods for modifying natural polymers and the use of the obtained green adsorbents are reviewed. A comparison of the sorption properties of green adsorbents based on natural polymers and other adsorbents used in industry has also been carried out. With the participation of green adsorbents based on natural polymers, the properties of treated wastewaters having toxic metal ions, organic dyes, petroleum products, and other harmful compounds was analyzed. Future perspectives on green adsorbents based on natural polymers are as also highlighted.

Synthesis and physicochemical properties of an aromatic chitosan derivative: In vitro antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer evaluations, and in silico studies

This study was designed to synthesize a functionalized chitosan by coupling the amine groups of chitosan with 2,4,6-Trimethoxybenzaldehyde, producing a chitosan Schiff base (Cs-TMB). The development of Cs-TMB was verified employing FT-IR, ¹H NMR, the electronic spectrum, and elemental analysis. Antioxidant assays exhibited significant ameliorations of Cs-TMB, reporting scavenging activities of 69.67 ± 3.48 % and 39.65 ± 1.98 % for ABTS^•+ and DPPH, respectively, while native chitosan showed scavenging ratios of 22.69 ± 1.13 % and 8.24 ± 0.4.1 % toward ABTS^•+ and DPPH, respectively. Besides, Cs-TMB exerted significant antibacterial activity up to 90 % with remarkable bactericidal capacity against virulent gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria compared to the original chitosan. Furthermore, Cs-TMB exhibited a safe profile against normal fibroblast cells (HFB4). Interestingly, flow cytometric analysis showed that Cs-TMB demonstrated prominent anticancer properties of 52.35 ± 2.99 % against human skin cancer cells (A375), compared to 10.66 ± 0.55 % for Cs-treated cells. Moreover, Python and PyMOL in-house scripts were used to predict the interaction of Cs-TMB with the adenosine A1 receptor and visualized as a protein-ligand system submerged in a lipid membrane. Overall, these findings accentuate that Cs-TMB could be a favorable representative for wound dressing formulations and skin cancer treatment.

Preparation and Characterization of a New Bis-Uracil Chitosan-Based Hydrogel as Efficient Adsorbent for Removal of Anionic Congo Red Dye

A new hydrogel, based on chitosan crosslinked with 2-chlorophenyl-bis(6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracil-5-yl) methane, (2Clph-BU-Cs), has been successfully created. Various instrumental techniques such as elemental analysis, FTIR, SEM, and XRD were used to prove its structure. Its removal efficiency for anionic Congo red (CR) dye under different conditions for industrial wastewater treatment was studied. For optimizing the conditions to maximize CR dye removal, the impacts of temperature, contact time, pH, and initial concentration of the dye on adsorption capacity were investigated. The removal of the dye was pH-dependent, with a much higher value achieved at pH 4 than at pH 7 and 9. The maximum adsorption capacity of the hydrogel was 93.46 mg g^-1. The model of adsorption process was fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The intraparticle diffusion demonstrated the multi-step nature of the adsorption process. The thermodynamic results showed that the adsorption process was endothermic because of the positive value of enthalpy (43.70 kJ mol^-1). The process of adsorption at high temperatures was spontaneous, according to the values of ∆G⁰. An increase in randomness was seen in the value of ∆S°. Generally, the investigated hydrogel has the potential to be used as a promising effective reusable adsorbent for industrial wastewater remediation.

Chitosan-Based Biomaterials: Insights into Chemistry, Properties, Devices, and Their Biomedical Applications

Chitosan is a marine-origin polysaccharide obtained from the deacetylation of chitin, the main component of crustaceans’ exoskeleton, and the second most abundant in nature. Although this biopolymer has received limited attention for several decades right after its discovery, since the new millennium chitosan has emerged owing to its physicochemical, structural and biological properties, multifunctionalities and applications in several sectors. This review aims at providing an overview of chitosan properties, chemical functionalization, and the innovative biomaterials obtained thereof. Firstly, the chemical functionalization of chitosan backbone in the amino and hydroxyl groups will be addressed. Then, the review will focus on the bottom-up strategies to process a wide array of chitosan-based biomaterials. In particular, the preparation of chitosan-based hydrogels, organic–inorganic hybrids, layer-by-layer assemblies, (bio)inks and their use in the biomedical field will be covered aiming to elucidate and inspire the community to keep on exploring the unique features and properties imparted by chitosan to develop advanced biomedical devices. Given the wide body of literature that has appeared in past years, this review is far from being exhaustive. Selected works in the last 10 years will be considered.

Chitin and Chitosan as Polymers of the Future-Obtaining, Modification, Life Cycle Assessment and Main Directions of Application

Natural polymers are very widespread in the world, which is why it is so important to know about the possibilities of their use. Chitin is the second most abundant reproducible natural polymer in nature; however, it is insoluble in water and basic solvents. Chitin is an unused waste of the food industry, for which there are possibilities of secondary management. The research led to obtaining a soluble, environmentally friendly form of chitin, which has found potential applications in the many fields, e.g., medicine, cosmetics, food and textile industries, agriculture, etc. The deacetylated form of chitin, which is chitosan, has a number of beneficial properties and wide possibilities of modification. Modification possibilities mean that we can obtain chitosan with the desired functional properties, facilitating, for example, the processing of this polymer and expanding the possibilities of its application, also as biomimetic materials. The review contains a rich description of the possibilities of modifying chitin and chitosan and the main directions of their application, and life cycle assessment (LCA)-from the source of the polymer through production materials to various applications with the reduction of waste.

Optimization Preparation and Evaluation of Chitosan Grafted Norfloxacin as a Hemostatic Sponge

Considering the great harm to the human body caused by severe and massive bleeding, in this study, chitosan-grafted norfloxacin (CTS-NF) composites were prepared with chitosan (CTS) and norfloxacin (NF) as raw materials by a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide-mediated coupling method to solve the limitations of slow hemostatic and poor anti-infective effects of current dressings on the market. The effects of the mass ratio of CTS to NF (M_CTS/M_NF), reaction temperature T and reaction time t on the grafting rate (η%) of the products were investigated through single factor tests. The preparation process was optimized with the η% as an evaluation index by means of the Box-Behnken test design and response surface analysis. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by inhibition zone assay, and the hemostatic activity of the prepared composites was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The results suggested that the optimum preparation conditions were the mass ratio of CTS to NF (M_CTS/M_NF) 5:3, reaction temperature 65 °C, and reaction time 4 h. Under this condition, the η% of CTS-NF was 45.5%. The CTS-NF composites displayed significant antimicrobial activities. Moreover, in vitro hemostasis results revealed that the CTS-NF composite had a lower blood clotting index and absorbed red blood cells to promote aggregation. In vivo ear and live hemostasis, the CTS-NF groups showed short hemostatic time (49.75 ± 3.32 s and 50.00 ± 7.21 s) and more blood loss (0.07 ± 0.010 g and 0.075 ± 0.013 g). The results showed that CTS-NF reduced the bleeding time and volume, exhibiting a significant coagulation effect. Therefore, the CTS-NF sponge is expected to be a new, effective hemostatic and antibacterial material in the future.

Salicylaldehydediol Grafted onto Chitosan: Characterization and Their Film Properties

The concentrations of linker group effect different physicochemical features of the biopolymer, including thermal stability, shape, swelling, and water solubility. Herein, three novel chitosan (CH) based films (CHSD1-3) have been prepared by a facile method for their film characteristics. Thus, amphiphilic salicylaldehydediol (SD) was synthesized from hydrophilic glycidol and salicylaldehyde in high yield and regioselectivity. CHSD1-3 films were prepared by the imine condensation reaction of polymeric chitosan backbone and various ratios of SD linker. The reaction takes place with high conversation and amazingly mechanically resistant thickness films without using any plasticizer that exhibits low water solubility and low swelling ratios at pH > 3, which can be suggested as thin layer protecting systems for medical devices. Chitosan-salicylaldehydediol biopolymer films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. The FT-IR, DSC, and XRD results show a clear linkage of the SD group to the chitosan backbone, high thermal stability of the films, and a change in the original nature of chitosan, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations have also supported the successful grafting of the SD group onto the chitosan.

Chitosan: Sources, Processing and Modification Techniques

Chitosan, a copolymer of glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine, is derived from chitin. Chitin is found in cell walls of crustaceans, fungi, insects and in some algae, microorganisms, and some invertebrate animals. Chitosan is emerging as a very important raw material for the synthesis of a wide range of products used for food, medical, pharmaceutical, health care, agriculture, industry, and environmental pollution protection. This review, in line with the focus of this special issue, provides the reader with (1) an overview on different sources of chitin, (2) advances in techniques used to extract chitin and converting it into chitosan, (3) the importance of the inherent characteristics of the chitosan from different sources that makes them suitable for specific applications and, finally, (4) briefly summarizes ways of tailoring chitosan for specific applications. The review also presents the influence of the degree of acetylation (DA) and degree of deacetylation (DDA), molecular weight (M_w) on the physicochemical and biological properties of chitosan, acid-base behavior, biodegradability, solubility, reactivity, among many other properties that determine processability and suitability for specific applications. This is intended to help guide researchers select the right chitosan raw material for their specific applications.