Synthesis and Some Properties of Nonnatural Amino Polysaccharides: Branched Chitin and Chitosan

Saccharide branched cellulose with controllable molecular structure and excellent water retention ability

In this work, saccharide branched cellulose (saccharide b-Cel) was synthesized by combining reducing saccharides with cellulose molecules using Ugi four-component reaction (Ugi-4CR). First, the carboxyl groups required for Ugi-4CR are obtained by carboxymethylating cellulose molecules. Then, saccharide b-Cel with a controlled molecular structure is formed when the terminal aldehyde group of reducing saccharides combines with the carboxyl group and auxiliary functional group. The types of saccharides, the degree of substitution of carboxymethyl groups, and the degree of branching all affect the molecular structure of saccharide b-Cel. Through molecular structural regulation, the relationship between the branching structure and water retention ability of saccharide b-Cel was examined in detail. This work not only provides new insights into the synthesis of cellulose derivatives, but it also provides a template for the synthesis of other biomass derivatives.

Advances in the Sensing and Treatment of Wound Biofilms

Wound biofilms represent a particularly challenging problem in modern medicine. They are increasingly antibiotic resistant and can prevent the healing of chronic wounds. However, current treatment and diagnostic options are hampered by the complexity of the biofilm environment. In this review, we present new chemical avenues in biofilm sensors and new materials to treat wound biofilms, offering promise for better detection, chemical specificity, and biocompatibility. We briefly discuss existing methods for biofilm detection and focus on novel, sensor-based approaches that show promise for early, accurate detection of biofilm formation on wound sites and that can be translated to point-of-care settings. We then discuss technologies inspired by new materials for efficient biofilm eradication. We focus on ultrasound-induced microbubbles and nanomaterials that can both penetrate the biofilm and simultaneously carry active antimicrobials and discuss the benefits of those approaches in comparison to conventional methods.

Advances in the Sensing and Treatment of Wound Biofilms

Wound biofilms represent a particularly challenging problem in modern medicine. They are increasingly antibiotic resistant and can prevent the healing of chronic wounds. However, current treatment and diagnostic options are hampered by the complexity of the biofilm environment. In this review, we present new chemical avenues in biofilm sensors and new materials to treat wound biofilms, offering promise for better detection, chemical specificity, and biocompatibility. We briefly discuss existing methods for biofilm detection and focus on novel, sensor‐based approaches that show promise for early, accurate detection of biofilm formation on wound sites and that can be translated to point‐of‐care settings. We then discuss technologies inspired by new materials for efficient biofilm eradication. We focus on ultrasound‐induced microbubbles and nanomaterials that can both penetrate the biofilm and simultaneously carry active antimicrobials and discuss the benefits of those approaches in comparison to conventional methods.

Chitosan Combined with ZnO, TiO₂ and Ag Nanoparticles for Antimicrobial Wound Healing Applications: A Mini Review of the Research Trends

Chitosan is a natural polymer that has been widely utilized for many purposes in the food, textile, agriculture, water treatment, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Based on its characteristics, including biodegradability, non-toxicity and antimicrobial properties, it has been employed effectively in wound healing applications. Importantly, however, it is necessary to improve chitosan's capacities by combination with zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs). In this review of many of the latest research papers, we take a closer look at the antibacterial effectiveness of chitosan combined with ZnO, TiO₂ and Ag NPs and also evaluate the specific wound healing application potentials.

Structural Characterization of Oligochitosan Elicitor from Fusarium sambucinum and Its Elicitation of Defensive Responses in Zanthoxylum bungeanum

Oligosaccharide elicitors from pathogens have been shown to play major roles in host plant defense responses involving plant-pathogen chemoperception and interaction. In the present study, chitosan and oligochitosan were prepared from pathogen Fusarium sambucinum, and their effects on infection of Zanthoxylum bungeanum stems were investigated. Results showed that oligochitosan inhibited the infection of the pathogen, and that the oligochitosan fraction with a degree of polymerization (DP) between 5 and 6 showed the optimal effect. Oligochitosan DP5 was purified from fraction DP5-6 and was structurally characterized using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Oligochitosan DP5 showed significant inhibition against the infection of the pathogenic fungi on host plant stems. An investigation of the mechanism underlying this effect showed that oligochitosan DP5 increased the activities of defensive enzymes and accumulation of phenolics in host Z. bungeanum. These results suggest that oligochitosan from pathogenic fungi can mediate the infection of host plants with a pathogen by acting as an elicitor that triggers the defense system of a plant. This information will be valuable for further exploration of the interactions between the pathogen F. sambucinum and host plant Z. bungeanum.

Synthesis and macrophage activation of lentinan-mimic branched amino polysaccharides: curdlans having N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine branches

N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine branches were incorporated at the C-6 position of curdlan, a linear β-1,3-d-glucan, and the resulting nonnatural branched polysaccharides were evaluated in terms of the immunomodulation activities in comparison with lentinan, a β-1,3-d-glucan having d-glucose branches at C-6. To incorporate the amino sugar branches, we conducted a series of regioselective protection-deprotections of curdlan involving triphenylmethylation at C-6, phenylcarbamoylation at C-2 and C-4, and detriphenylmethylation. Subsequent glycosylation with a d-glucosamine-derived oxazoline, followed by deprotection gave rise to the branched curdlans with various substitution degrees. The products exhibited remarkable solubility in both organic solvents and water. Their immunomodulation activities were determined using mouse macrophagelike cells, and the secretions of both the tumor necrosis factor and nitric oxide proved to be significantly higher than those with lentinan. These results conclude that the amino sugar/curdlan hybrid materials are promising as a new type of polysaccharide immunoadjuvants useful for cancer chemotherapy.

Syntheses and Characterization of Chitosan Oligosaccharide-Graft-Polycaprolactone Copolymer I Thermal and Spherulite Morphology Studies

The thermoplastic graft copolymers of chitosan oligosaccharide (PHCSO-g-PCL) were successfully synthesized via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) through an amino group protection route using phthaloyl chitosan oligosaccharide (PHCSO) as intermediate. The graft reaction was carried out in Pyridine at 120 °C with a chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO) initiator and a tin 2-ethylhexanoate (Sn (Oct)2) catalyst. The prepared copolymer was characterized by FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). DSC analysis of PHCSO-g-PCL showed higher melting point at 54.8 °C than linear PCL. The TGA analysis showed that PHCSO-g-PCL was more thermal stable than original CSO. The banded spherulite structure of PHCSO-g-PCL and the growth of spherulite were observed by polarized optical microscope (POM); this was further proven by WAXD results.

Branched chitins as nonnatural immunomodulatory biopolymers: secretions of TNF-alpha and NO by direct stimulation of macrophages

In view of the interesting properties of branched polysaccharides occurring in nature, biological activities of nonnatural branched chitins having beta-1,6-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine branches on the poly(beta-1,4-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) backbone have been studied. The immunostimulatory activities of the branched chitins were determined and compared with those of lentinan, a beta-1,3-D-glucan having beta-1,6-D-glucose branches, using the mouse macrophagelike cell line RAW264.7 in vitro. The secretions of the tumor necrosis factor and nitric oxide proved to be significantly higher with the branched chitins than with lentinan. Moreover, when interferon-gamma was used in conjunction with the branched chitins on macrophage treatment, a marked augmentation of nitric oxide production was observed. These results are interpreted as the direct stimulation of macrophages by the branched chitins, and the distinctive activities suggest the possibility of developing new types of polysaccharide antitumor agents.

6-Amino-6-deoxy-chitosan. Sequential chemical modifications at the C-6 positions of N-phthaloyl-chitosan and evaluation as a gene carrier

The C-6 positions of chitosan were successively modified in a highly regioselective manner. The starting material, N-phthaloyl-chitosan, was successfully converted into the corresponding 6-deoxy-6-halo derivatives by reaction with N-halosuccinimides and triphenylphosphine in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The resulting chloride and bromide derivatives were then substituted with azido groups by reaction with sodium azide at 120 and 80 degrees C, respectively. The azido groups were then reduced to amines via formation of the triphenylphosphinimine intermediate followed by hydrolysis using aqueous hydrazine, which also led to the removal of the N-phthaloyl groups at the C-2 positions. This sequence gave 6-amino-6-deoxy-chitosan, which, unlike chitosan, is soluble in water at neutral pH. The synthesized 6-amino-6-deoxy-chitosan derivative was evaluated as a gene carrier, and the transfection efficiency for COS-1 cells was shown to be superior to chitosan. In addition, the cytotoxicity was similar to chitosan.

Chitosan derivatives killed bacteria by disrupting the outer and inner membrane

Six kinds of water-soluble chitosan were prepared by grafting aminofunctionality onto chitosan at the C-6 position, and their antimicrobial activities were investigated against three Gram-negative and three Gram-positive bacteria. Among the derivatives, dimethylaminoethyl-chitosan (DMAEC) has the highest potential to suppress the growth of bacteria. To elucidate detailed antimicrobial modes of action against bacteria, cell integrity, outer membrane (OM), and inner membrane (IM) permeabilization assays were investigated. When treated with DMAEC, the release of 260 nm absorbing materials quickly increased for both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, but the absorbance value was different due to the difference in cell structures. In OM and IM permeabilization assays, DMAEC rapidly increased 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine uptake and the release of cytoplasmic beta-galactosidase via an increase in the permeability of OM and IM. Moreover, DMAEC90 prepared from 90% deacetylated chitosan had more activity than DMAEC50 prepared from 50% deacetylated chitosan, and these results revealed that the antimicrobial action of water-soluble chitosans was dependent on the degree of deacetylation and the substituted group.

Enhancement of fungicidal and insecticidal activity by reductive alkylation of chitosan

A series of N-alkyl chitosan (NAC) derivatives were synthesized using a reductive alkylation reaction to examine their fungicidal and insecticidal activity. The chemical structures were characterized by IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and the degree of substitution (DS) ranged from 0.02 to 0.37. Their fungicidal activity was evaluated against the grey mould Botrytis cinerea Pers ex Fr (Leotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) and the rice leaf blast pathogen Pyricularia grisea Sacc [Teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea (Hebert) Barr] by a radial growth bioassay. It was of interest that most of the NAC derivatives were more active against both fungi than chitosan itself. The most active derivative was N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)chitosan with EC50 values of 0.031 and 0.23 g L(-1) against B. cinerea and P. grisea respectively. In addition, some derivatives, at higher concentrations up to 1.0 g L(-1), inhibited the mycelial growth and spore formation of P. grisea. Bioassays against larvae of the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with the NAC derivatives at a rate of 5.0 g kg(-1) in artificial diet demonstrated that N-(3-phenylbutyl)chitosan was the most active compound. In addition, N-propylchitosan, N-undecanylchitosan and N-(3-phenylpropyl)chitosan derivatives strongly inhibited larval weight gain in S. littoralis, with respective reductions of 76, 66 and 65% after 4 days of feeding on treated diet.

Chitin and chitosan: functional biopolymers from marine crustaceans

Chitin and chitosan, typical marine polysaccharides as well as abundant biomass resources, are attracting a great deal of attention because of their distinctive biological and physicochemical characteristics. To fully explore the high potential of these specialty biopolymers, basic and application researches are being made extensively. This review deals with the fundamental aspects of chitin and chitosan such as the preparation of chitin and chitosan, crystallography, extent of N-acetylation, and some properties. Recent progress of their chemistry is then discussed, focusing on elemental modification reactions including acylation, alkylation, Schiff base formation and reductive alkylation, carboxyalkylation, phthaloylation, silylation, tosylation, quaternary salt formation, and sulfation and thiolation.

Preparation of chitosan-g-polycaprolactone copolymers through ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone onto phthaloyl-protected chitosan

The new biodegradable chitosan graft copolymer, chitosan-g-polycaprolactone, was synthesized by the ring-opening graft copolymerization of epsilon-caprolactone onto phthaloyl-protected chitosan (PHCS) at the hydroxyl group in the presence of tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate catalyst via a protection-graft-deprotection procedure. Toluene acted as a swelling agent in this heterogeneous system. The grafting reactions were conducted with various PHCS/monomer/toluene feed ratios to obtain chitosan-g-polycaprolactone copolymers with various polycaprolactone contents. The chemical structure of the chitosan-g-polycaprolactone was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. After deprotection, the phthaloyl group was removed and the amino group was regenerated. Thus the obtained chitosan-g-polycaprolactone was an amphoteric hybrid with a large amount of free amino groups and hydrophobic polycaprolactone side chains. Some properties of the final product were also investigated, such as crystallinity, thermal property, and solubility.

Nonnatural branched polysaccharides: synthesis and properties of chitin and chitosan having disaccharide maltose branches

Synthesis and properties of chitin and chitosan derivatives having beta-maltoside branches at C-6 have been studied. Chitosan was first transformed into an organosoluble acceptor having a reactive group only at C-6, 3-O-acetyl-2-N-phthaloyl-6-O-trimethylsilylchitosan. Glycosylation with an ortho ester from d-maltose was performed successfully at room temperature in dichloromethane in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as the catalyst. The degree of substitution could be controlled by the reaction conditions and was up to 0.56. Full deprotection gave chitosan with maltoside branches, and the subsequent N-acetylation resulted in the formation of the corresponding chitin derivative. The introduced disaccharide unit improved hydrophilic properties considerably compared to monosaccharide units as confirmed by high solubility in water and moisture absorption and retention ability. The enzymatic degradability and antimicrobial activity were moderate probably because of the bulky nature of the branches.

Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto mercaptochitin and some properties of the resulting hybrid materials

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto mercaptochitin and some properties of the resulting graft copolymers have been studied. Methyl methacrylate was efficiently graft copolymerized onto mercaptochitin in dimethyl sulfoxide, and the grafting percentage reached 1300% under appropriate conditions. Although the side-chain ester groups were resistant to aqueous alkali, hydrolysis could be achieved with a mixture of aqueous sodium hydroxide and dimethyl sulfoxide. Subsequent treatment with acetic anhydride in methanol transformed the sodium carboxylate groups into carboxyl groups. Although the graft copolymers exhibited an improved affinity for organic solvents, those having sodium carboxylate or carboxyl units were characterized by a much more enhanced solubility and were soluble in common solvents. The hygroscopic nature of chitin decreased with an increase in the grafting extent but increased significantly upon hydrolysis of the ester groups. The enzymatic degradability of the graft copolymers, as evaluated with lysozyme, was also dependent on the grafting extent and much higher than that of the original chitin. DSC measurements revealed the presence of a glass transition phenomenon, which could be ascribed to the poly(methyl methacrylate) side chain.