Abstract
Chitosan produced by the deacetylation of chitin is a cationic polymer with antimicrobial properties. In this study, we demonstrate the improvement of chitosan properties by nanofibrillation. Nanofiber sheets were prepared from nanofibrillated chitosan under neutral conditions. The Young’s modulus and tensile strength of the chitosan NF sheets were higher than those of the chitosan sheets prepared from dissolving chitosan in acetic acid. The chitosan NF sheets showed strong mycelial growth inhibition against dermatophytes Microsporum and Trichophyton. Moreover, the chitosan NF sheets exhibited resistance to degradation by the fungi, suggesting potentials long-lasting usage. In addition, surface-deacetylated chitin nanofiber (SDCNF) sheets were prepared. The SDCNF sheet had a high Young’s modulus and tensile strength and showed antifungal activity to dermatophytes. These data indicate that nanofibrillation improved the properties of chitosan. Thus, chitosan NF and SDCNF sheets are useful candidates for antimicrobial materials.
Highlights
Chitosan, produced by the deacetylation of chitin, is a cationic linear polysaccharide [1,2]
We demonstrate the antifungal activity to dermatophytes of chitosan NF and surface-deacetylated chitin nanofibers (SDCNF), the nanofibrillation of which enhanced chitosan properties such as the water dispersibility and mechanical strength of a sheet
Chitin or chitosan dispersed in water were passed through waterjet system equipped with a ball-collision chamber and slurry was ejected from a small nozzle under high pressure
Summary
Chitosan, produced by the deacetylation of chitin, is a cationic linear polysaccharide [1,2]. Surface-deacetylated chitin was prepared from chitin, whose surface had been transformed into chitosan by deacetylation, and the core part was maintained as chitin crystal These techniques may help to widen the range of usability of chitosan: biosensor, filtration applications to water and air purification, drug delivery, wound dressing, tissue engineering [3,4,5,6,7]. Chitosan showed antifungal activity against Alternaria brassicicola, A. solani, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. parasiticus, Botrytis cinerea, Byssochlamys spp., Fusarium concentricum, F. oxysporum, Mucor piriformis, M. racemosus, Pythium debaryanum, Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizopus stolonifer, Saprolegnia parasitica, and Ustilago maydis [14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26]. Chitosan is nontoxic to mammalian cells, chitosan NF and SDCNF should be useful materials in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, household products, and textiles
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
