Water-soluble Chitosan Research Articles

Supramolecular Assembly and Reversible Transition and of Chitosan Fluorescent Micelles by Noncovalent Modulation

Chitosan-based intelligent artificial systems have been of increasing interest for their biocompatibility, multifunctionality, biological activity, and low cost. Herein, we report the fabrication of supramolecular nanoparticles based on water-soluble chitosan (WCS) and 1,1 ′ ,1 ″ ,1 ″ ′ -(ethene-1,1,2,2-tetrayl)tetrakis(benzene-4,1-diyl) tetrakis(azanediyl)tetraacetic acid (TPE-(N-COOH)4), which is capable of reversible transition between polyion complexes (PICs) and hydrogen bonding complexes (HBCs) with tunable aggregation-induced emission driven by pH value. The PIC micelles could be formed via electrostatic interaction between ammonium cations and carboxylate anions under mild alkaline conditions. The formation of the micelles dramatically blocks the nonradiative pathway and enhances the fluorescence of TPE moieties, and the maximum fluorescence intensity was achieved near the isoelectric point due to the restriction of intramolecular motion. In addition, the fluorescence intensity and size of the PIC micelles exhibited a temperature response in the range from 20 to 80°C. Upon adjusting the solution pH to 2, the PIC micelles were reconstructed into hydrogen-bonding complexes while the hydrogen bonding interaction between the protonated carboxyl groups of TPE-(N-COOH)4 and chitosan. Moreover, the size of the micelles underwent a remarkable decrease, whereas the fluorescence emission was further enhanced by ~6.25-fold. The pH actuated micellar transition from PIC to HBC with tunable fluorescence performance is fully reversible. This study provides novel multifunctional materials that are of great importance for their potential application in the fields of optoelectronic devices and chemical and biomedical sensors.

Using Biological Elicitation to Improve Type 2 Diabetes Targeted Food Quality of Stored Apple

Food quality improvements of fresh fruits targeting both food preservation and human health is essential to advance healthy dietary options and to mitigate imbalanced nutrition-linked non-communicable chronic disease (NCDs) challenges globally. Specifically, protective phenolic bioactives of fruits with dual functional benefits can be harnessed to advance innovations for improving nutritional quality and post-harvest shelf-life of perishable fruits. Based on this rationale the dual functional benefits of plant phenolics were harnessed using novel biological elicitation strategies to modulate phenolic bioactive-linked protective responses in apple during storage in two interrelated studies. Bioprocessed food-grade elicitors [water soluble chitosan oligosaccharide -(COS) and phenolic enriched oregano extracts-(OX)] were targeted as post-harvest dipping treatments (2 & 4 g/ L) and compared with diphenylamine (DPA) (1 & 2 g/L) to enhance phenolic-linked antioxidant and anti-diabetic (type 2 diabetes) relevant properties of Cortland apple during 3 months of storage (4°C). The selection of bio-elicitors and respective doses were based on the foundations of the previous related study, which resulted in reduction of superficial scald of Cortland apple during storage. Apples sampled over 3 months as aqueous and ethanol (12%) extracts of peel and pulp were analyzed separately for total soluble phenolic content, phenolic profile, antioxidant activity, and glucose metabolism relevant α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activities using in vitro assay models. Enhanced soluble phenolic content and associated antioxidant activity were observed in ethanol (12%) extracts of apple peel with 4 g/L COS elicitor treatments after 2 and 3 months of storage. High chlorogenic acid and quercetin derivatives were found in peel extracts of Cortland apple, while pulp extracts had high chlorogenic and gallic acids. Additionally, high α-glucosidase enzyme inhibitory activity, which is relevant for managing post-prandial hyperglycemia of type 2 diabetes was also observed in bio-elicited apple peel and pulp extracts. Therefore, results of these two interrelated studies indicate that bioprocessed food grade elicitor such as OX and COS can be recruited as a novel tool to enhance protective phenolic responses for improving type 2 diabetes targeted food quality and post-harvest storage quality of apple.

Effect of Adding Water-Soluble Chitosan on Some Physiological Traits of Quail Males

The study was conducted to determine the effect of adding water-soluble chitosan on some hematological and biochemical traits in the quail during rearing for meat production, twenty-seven male quail at nine weeks of age were randomly assigned to three treatments with three replicates, it was treated with chitosan for 28 days, according to the following concentrations, the first treatment (control treatment), the second and third treatments, water-soluble chitosan was added at a concentration of 0.2 and 0.3 g/L, respectively. The results showed that there were no significant differences among treatments in RBC, PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH, glucose concentration and AST and ALT enzymatic activity, while there were significantly increased WBC in both experimentsin addition treatments compared to the control treatment. The adding of the water-soluble chitosan at a concentration of 0.2 and 0.3 g/L resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides, while the adding 0.3 g/Lled to a significant increase (P≤ 0.05) in the total protein concentration, albumin and Globulin compared with the control group. We conclude from this research that the adding of water-soluble chitosan at a concentration of 0.3 g/L has the potential to improve productive performance and enhance bird health.

Amphiphilic chitosan–polyaminoxyls loaded with daunorubicin: Synthesis, antioxidant activity, and drug delivery capacity

The binding of aminoxyls to polymers extends their potential use as antioxidants and EPR-reporting groups and opens up new horizons for tailoring new smart materials. In this work, we synthesized and characterized non-sulfated and N-sulfated water-soluble amphiphilic chitosans with a critical micelle concentration of 0.02–0.05 mg/mL that contain 13–18% of aminoglycosides bound with various aminoxyls. Chitosan–polyaminoxyls (CPAs) formed micelles with hydrodynamic radii Rh of ca. 100 nm. The EPR spectra of CPAs were found to depend on the rigidity of the aminoxyl–polymer bond and structural changes caused by sulfation. CPAs demonstrated antioxidant capacity/activity in three tests against reactive oxygen species (ROS) of various nature. The charge of micelles and structure of aminoxyls significantly affected their antioxidant properties. CPAs were low toxic against tumor (HepG2, HeLa, A-172) and non-cancerous (Vero) cells (IC50 > 0.8 mM of aminoglycosides). Sulfated CPAs showed better water solubility and the ability of binding and retaining the anti-tumor antibiotic daunorubicin (DAU). DAU-loaded micelles of CPAs (CPAs–DAU) demonstrated a 1.5–4-fold potentiation of DAU cytotoxicity against several cell lines. CPAs–DAU micelles were found to affect the cell cycle in a manner markedly different from that of free DAU. Our results demonstrated the ability of CPAs to act as bioactive drug delivery vehicles.

Study on particle size and size distribution of gold nanoparticles by TEM and SAXS

Particle size and size distribution are two of the most vital parameters of nanomaterials since their physical properties as well as applications are highly dependent on these key factors. The objective of this work is to study the particle size and size distribution of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which were synthesized by a simple green synthesis in HAuCl4 and water-soluble chitosan solution (WSCS). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques were carried out to determine the particle size, size distribution and polydispersity of AuNPs. The evidences from TEM and SAXS indicated that AuNPs can be formed in spherical shape with the size in the range of 10–30 nm. From TEM, the particle sizes of the AuNPs prepared in WSC, S at the concentration of 0.02 and 0.05 mg/mL containing 0.1 mM HAuCl4 were 20.5 ± 2.1 and 21.2 ± 1.8 nm, respectively. By increasing the concentration of HAuCl4 precursor up to 0.5 mM, AuNPs exhibited a slightly larger particle size (24.4 ± 2.2 nm). The particle size, size distribution and polydispersity of AuNPs observed by TEM and SAXS were in agreement. However, AuNPs sizes from SAXS were smaller than those from TEM because only the Au core of the AuNPs was detected by X-ray scattering. In addition, the chemical structure and specific surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption of AuNPs were well characterized by FTIR and UV-vis spectrophotometer. The FTIR results of AuNPs implied that the stabilization of AuNPs in the WSCS was due to electrostatic interaction and steric hindrance of C=O, C–O–C, –OH, –NH2 groups. By using WSCS at concentration 0.02 and 0.05 mg/mL, the SPR absorption bands were observed at 545 and 535 nm, respectively. The TEM and SAXS results of AuNPs in this study will provide an essential basis for synthesis of metallic nanoparticles for various applications in the future.

Utilization of water-soluble chitosan as a sizing agent incorporated in a paper composite: effects of pulp weight and water-soluble chitosan concentration

Utilization of water-soluble chitosan as a sizing agent incorporated in a paper composite: effects of pulp weight and water-soluble chitosan concentration

Wound healing and antibacterial activities of water-soluble chitosan nanoparticles and excretion/secretion as a natural combination from medicinal maggots, Lucilia cuprina

Wounds management takes a high interest in the medical field and the addition of antimicrobial agents in an assortment of wound dressings leads to delay the wound healing. This study aimed at preparing natural combination between excretion/secretion (ES) and water-soluble chitosan nanoparticles (from Lucilia cuprina maggots) and investigating its antibacterial and wound healing activities. ES of maggots was collected, and the water-soluble chitosan nanoparticles (WSCNPs) were prepared and characterized. Antibacterial activities of combinations were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris. ES-WSC-2 combination that contains 50% ES and 1% WSCNPs showed highest antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria compared to the other combinations. In vitro, the ES-WSC-2 combination was used to study the wound healing activity by scratch assay. The synergism between ES and WSCNPs (in ES-WSC-2 combination) accelerated the wound healing rate which suggests the use of this combination as an effective natural antibacterial and wound healing agent.

Synthesis and wound healing performance of new water‐soluble chitosan derivatives

AbstractIn present work, an efficient method for the preparation of water‐soluble chitosan (CS) is reported. It is based on simple synthetic method, which is easy to handle and delivered good water solubility. This article describes the effect of various factors such as the concentration of reactants and the amount of solvents on the reactions' outcome as well as cytocompatibility of the resulting water‐soluble CS derivatives. CS derivatives with different ratios of polyethyleneimine (PEI) (80:20 (CP1), 90:20 (CP2), 95:5 (CP3), 99:1 (CP4), and 99.6:0.4 [CP5]), at optimized conditions (50 g of CS, 1 L of 0.5 M acetic acid solution at 80°C for 24 h) were synthesized. It was noted that the amount of PEI was critical for the cytocompatibility, decreasing the amount of PEI led to increasing the cytocompatibility of the obtained water soluble CS derivatives. To show the biomedical and drug delivery applications of the newly synthesized CS derivative, this was used to prepare membranes by freeze‐drying and was loaded with thyroxine, respectively. The angiogenic potential of the thyroxine loaded membranes was tested in chorio allantoic membrane assay, which showed good level of neovascularization. For wound healing studies full thickness wounds rat model was used and thyroxine loaded hydrogels showed complete wound healing at day 23.

Polyethylenimine grafted-chitosan based Gambogic acid copolymers for targeting cancer cells overexpressing transferrin receptors

Recent advancements in gene delivery systems that specifically target a variety of cancer types have increased demand for tissue-specific gene therapy. The current study describes the synthesis of a copolymer (GPgWSC) composed of a polyethylenimine (PEI)-grafted water-soluble chitosan (WSC) and gambogic acid (GA). It was validated as a ligand capable of enabling targeted attachment to transferrin receptors in HCT116 cancer cell lines. GPgWSC demonstrated superior antitumor activity in vitro in HCT116 compared to LoVo or MCF-7 cell lines, facilitated by the apoptotic activity of psiRNA-hBCL2. Pre-incubation of transferrin significantly inhibited GFP expression in the GPgWSC polyplex, demonstrating that GA is an extremely effective transferrin receptor targeting molecule. Additionally, in the HCT116-bearing mouse model, the tumor mass of PBS-treated mice increased to 2270 mm2 after 22 days, but the injection of GPgWSC polyplex significantly reduced the mass-increasing rate as a mass size of 248 mm2.

Water-Soluble Elastomeric Carboxymethyl Chitosan as an Efficient Binder for Si Anodes of Lithium Ion Batteries.

The binder acts a pivotal part in determining the mechanical and electrochemical performances of lithium-ion battery electrodes. Herein, a series of water-soluble Si anode binders based on carboxymethyl chitosan (C-Cs) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is developed. Water-soluble C-Cs and aqueous emulsion SBR solution are mixed to form C-Cs/SBR binders. The physical properties of the modified Si electrode are investigated through electrolyte swelling test, peeling test, and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical strength provided to Cu foils and active substances by the C-Cs/SBR binder is higher than that produced by C-Cs. This performance can effectively reduce the stress/strain caused by the drastic volume change of the Si anodes during repeated uses and improve the electrochemical property of lithium-ion batteries. The initial thicknesses of the Si electrodes with polyvinylidene fluoride, C-Cs, and C-Cs/SBR20 binders are approximately 7.1, 7.2, and 6.9 µm, respectively. After 100 cycles, their initial thicknesses increase to 11.2, 12.4, and 7.2 µm and correspond to expansions of 57.8%, 72.2%, and 4.3%, respectively. The discharge capacity of Si electrodes containing C-Cs/SBR20 binder reaches to 1340 mAh·g-1 when the current density is 4 A·g-1, and reserves to be 1020 mAh·g-1 after undergoing 400 cycles of repeated use at 500 mA·g-1.

Bombesin Peptide Conjugated Water-Soluble Chitosan Gallate-A New Nanopharmaceutical Architecture for the Rapid One-Pot Synthesis of Prostate Tumor Targeted Gold Nanoparticles.

PurposeWe report herein bombesin peptide conjugated water-soluble chitosan gallate as a template for rapid one-pot synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with capabilities to target receptors on prostate cancer cells.MethodsWater-soluble chitosan (WCS), anchored with gallic acid (GA) and LyslLys3 (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclo dodecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) bombesin 1–14 (DBBN) peptide, provides a tumor targeting nanomedicine agent. WCS nanoplatforms provide attractive strategies with built-in capabilities to reduce gold (III) to gold nanoparticles with stabilizing and tumor-targeting capabilities. WCS-GA-DBBN encapsulation around gold nanoparticles affords optimum in vitro stability.ResultsThe DBBN content in the WCS-GA-DBBN sample was ~27%w/w. The antioxidant activities of WCS-GA and WCS-GA-DBBN nanocolloids were enhanced by 12 times as compared to the nascent WCS. AuNPs with a desirable hydrodynamic diameter range of 40–60 nm have been efficiently synthesized using WCS-GA and WCS-GA-DBBN platforms. The AuNPs were stable over 4 days after preparation and ~3 days after subjecting to all relevant biological fluids. The AuNPs capped with WCS-GA-DBBN peptide exhibited superior cellular internalization into prostate tumor (PC-3) cells with evidence of receptor mediated endocytosis.ConclusionThe AuNPs capped with WCS-GA-DBBN exhibited selective affinity toward prostate cancer cells. AuNPs conjugated with WCS-GA-DBBN serve as a new generation of theranostic agents for treating various neoplastic diseases, thus opening-up new applications in oncology.

Exploring phosphonium and ammonium chitosan polymers and their PEGylated analogs for high performance gene delivery

• New chitosan derivatives containing triethylammonium chloride or triethylphosphonium chloride and their PEGylated analogs have been synthesized and characterized. • The derivatives efficiently bind pDNA at low weight ratio of derivative:pDNA of 2.8:1. • Apoptosis measurements by flow cytometry indicated that the derivatives containing triethylammonium chloride or triethylphosphonium chloride and PEG induce no perceptible and mild apoptosis with their concentration at 100 µg/mL. • The present study provides evidence that these PEGylated derivatives are safe and effective vectors for efficient nucleic acid delivery. Among cationic polymers, chitosan (CS) is a promising non-viral vector due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability and safety profile. However, its application for gene delivery is hindered by its poor solubility at physiological pH. In this study, novel water-soluble chitosan derivatives containing triethylphosphonium chloride ((N-(1-carboxybutyl-4-triethylphosphonium chloride) chitosan = TEPB-CS)) or triethylammonium chloride ((N-(1-carboxybutyl-4-triethylammonium chloride) chitosan = TEAB-CS)) with 4-carbon spacers separating the cationic units from the chitosan backbone were synthesized by carbodiimide mediated coupling reactions. Two different degrees of substitution of quaternary phosphonium (43% and 21%) and ammonium (40.6% and 26%) were synthesized. The polymers with higher degrees of substitutions displayed higher solubility in aqueous media and were further grafted with mPEG (TEAB-CS-g-mPEG and TEPB-CS-g-mPEG) and used for DNA complexation, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and gene transfection studies. Chemical characterization of the above polymers was performed by FTIR, 1 H NMR, and 31 P NMR, and the degree of substitution of the grafted phosphonium and ammonium and mPEG was calculated by 1 H NMR. The polymers efficiently bound pDNA at weight ratio of polymer:pDNA of 2.8:1. From dynamic light scattering experiments, the mean diameters of the calf thymus DNA complexes with the polymers, in water and phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), were in the range of 140 – 330 nm. Zeta potential of these complexes in water became positive as the weight ratios of the polymers/DNA exceeded 2:1. Most of these polymers mildly affect the viability of HeLa cells with a final concentration of 10 µg/mL or higher. Cell viability was only modestly compromised in the presence of 100 µg/mL of TEPB-CS-g-mPEG, and this derivative was also found to display the highest transfection efficiencies among all four polymers. Apoptosis measurements by flow cytometry indicated that both TEAB-CS-g-mPEG and TEPB-CS-g-mPEG induce no perceptible and mild apoptosis with their concentration at 100 µg/mL, respectively. Together, the present study provides evidence that these PEGylated TEPB-CS and TEAB-CS are safe and effective vectors for efficient nucleic acid delivery.

Film-Forming Spray of Water-Soluble Chitosan Containing Liposome-Coated Human Epidermal Growth Factor for Wound Healing.

Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) has been known to have excellent wound-healing activity. However, direct application to the wound area can lead to low hEGF bioavailability due to protease enzymes or endocytosis. The use of liposomes as coatings and carriers can protect hEGF from degradation by enzymes, chemical reactions, and immune reactions. Sustained release using a matrix polymer can also keep the levels of hEGF in line with the treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a film-forming spray of water-soluble chitosan (FFSWSC) containing hEGF-liposomes as a potential wound dressing. The hEGF-liposomes were prepared using the hydration film method, and the preparation of the FFSWSC was achieved by the ionic gelation method. The hydration film method produced hEGF-liposomes that were round and spread with a Z-average of 219.3 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 99.87%, whereas the film-forming solution, which provided good sprayability, had a formula containing 2% WSC and 3% propylene glycol with a viscosity, spray angle, droplet size, spray weight, and occlusion factor of 21.94 ± 0.05 mPa.s, 73.03 ± 1.28°, 54.25 ± 13.33 µm, 0.14 ± 0.00 g, and 14.57 ± 3.41%, respectively. The pH, viscosity, and particle size of the FFSWSC containing hEGF-liposomes were stable during storage for a month in a climatic chamber (40 ± 2 °C, RH 75 ± 5%). A wound healing activity test on mice revealed that hEGF-liposomes in FFSWSC accelerated wound closure significantly, with a complete wound closure on day 6. Based on the findings, we concluded that FFSWSC containing hEGF-liposomes has the potential to be used as a wound dressing.

Chitosan – Rosmarinic acid conjugates with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and photoprotective properties

Rosmarinic acid is an attractive candidate for skin applications because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective functions, however, its poor bioavailability hampers its therapeutic outcome. In this context, synthesis of polymer conjugates is an alternative to enlarge its applications. This work describes the synthesis of novel water-soluble chitosan – rosmarinic acid conjugates (CSRA) that have great potential for skin applications. Chitosan was functionalized with different contents of rosmarinic acid as confirmed by ATR-FTIR, 1H NMR and UV spectroscopies. CSRA conjugates presented three-fold radical scavenger capacity compared to the free phenolic compound. Films were prepared by solvent-casting procedure and the biological activity of the lixiviates was studied in vitro. Results revealed that lixiviates reduced activation of inflamed macrophages, improved antibacterial capacity against E. coli with respect to native chitosan and free rosmarinic acid, and also attenuated UVB-induced cellular damage and reactive oxygen species production in fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

Improving cellulose viscosity protection and delignification in ozone bleaching of low-consistency pulp with water-soluble chitosan

The effect of water-soluble chitosan (WSC) with molecular weights (Mw) from 1.0×104 to 1.0×106 on cellulose viscosity protection was explored during the treatment of low-consistency pulp with the ozone bleaching process (OBP). Through determination of the change in crystallinity, carboxyl content, and physical strength of ozone-bleached refined dissolving pulp, WSC was shown to effectively protect cellulose viscosity by scavenging free radicals and forming a protective film deposited on the fiber surface to prevent the destruction of cellulose by oxidants. During the OBP of sulfate hardwood pulp (SHP), application of a 0.5 % dose of WSC with a Mw of 1.0×105 increased not only the cellulose viscosity but also the selectivity of ozone delignification. The brightness, viscosity, and delignification selectivity of the bleached SHP were enhanced by 3.88±0.05 %, 13.0±0.10 %, and 76.6±0.50 %, respectively. Accordingly, the indexes of tensile strength, burst strength and tear strength of the resulting SHP hand sheet were increased by 38.6±1.0 %, 74.8±1.5 %, and 117.3±2.5 %, respectively. WSC had the best performance among the reported additives of equal weights for protection of cellulose viscosity in improving the pulp qualities after the OBP.

Hyaluronan/Diethylaminoethyl Chitosan Polyelectrolyte Complexes as Carriers for Improved Colistin Delivery.

Improving the therapeutic characteristics of antibiotics is an effective strategy for controlling the growth of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to develop a colistin (CT) delivery system based on hyaluronic acid (HA) and the water-soluble cationic chitosan derivative, diethylaminoethyl chitosan (DEAECS). The CT delivery system was a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) obtained by interpolymeric interactions between the HA polyanion and the DEAECS polycation, with simultaneous inclusion of positively charged CT molecules into the resulting complex. The developed PEC had a hydrodynamic diameter of 210–250 nm and a negative surface charge (ζ-potential = −19 mV); the encapsulation and loading efficiencies were 100 and 16.7%, respectively. The developed CT delivery systems were characterized by modified release (30–40% and 85–90% of CT released in 15 and 60 min, respectively) compared to pure CT (100% CT released in 15 min). In vitro experiments showed that the encapsulation of CT in polysaccharide carriers did not reduce its antimicrobial activity, as the minimum inhibitory concentrations against Pseudomonas aeruginosa of both encapsulated CT and pure CT were 1 μg/mL.

Synthesis optimization, DFT and physicochemical study of chitosan sulfates

Chitosan is an important biologically active amino polysaccharide. Water-soluble sulfated chitosan derivatives are widely used as anticoagulant and antiviral drugs. In this study, new methods for sulfamic acid sulfation of chitosan in the presence of urea in 1,4-dioxane and in a deep eutectic solvent representing a mixture of sulfamic acid and urea have been proposed. Mathematical models of sulfation of chitosan in these systems have been built. The obtained sulfated chitosan derivatives have been investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, atomic force microscopy, gel permeation chromatography, elemental analysis, and the density functional theory. The introduction of the sulfate group into the chitosan molecule was proven by infrared spectroscopy. When using the sulfamic acid/urea mixture, side reactions of carbamation of chitosan have been observed. It has been established from the atomic force microscopy data that the sulfated chitosan film surface consists of spherical particles partially agglomerated with each other. According to the gel permeation chromatography data, sulfated chitosan obtained in different systems, but under the same conditions (temperature and time), has different molecular weight distributions. The molecular weight distribution curve of the sulfated chitosan obtained in the sulfamic acid‒urea‒1,4-dioxane system is significantly shifted to the high-molecular region (Mw ~ 36.6 kDa), while the sulfated chitosan obtained in the sulfamic acid/urea deep eutectic solvent (Mw ~ 27.2 kDa). The density functional theory calculation of chitosan sulfates in the B3LYP/6-31G(d, p) basis set have been made.

Novel procyanidins-loaded chitosan-graft-polyvinyl alcohol film with sustained antibacterial activity for food packaging

Active food packaging materials containing procyanidins (PC) exhibits outstanding antimicrobial activity, but PC is easy to be hydrolyzed by acid. A novel water-soluble chitosan (CS)-based copolymer was prepared to be used as a carrier to provide a pH-stable environment for loading PC. CS was copolymerized with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) via a coupling reagent-mediated approach. The CS-graft-PVA film exhibited a desirable PC encapsulation efficiency of over 95% and excellent long-term release sustainability, which was better than the conventional CS and CS-blend-PVA films. Moreover, CS-graft-PVA film had satisfactory mechanical properties and barrier properties, as well possessed a desirable antibacterial activity and biofilm inhibition against foodborne pathogenic microbes and spoilage bacteria. The film was also applied in the salmon muscle perseveration and showed a potential ability to prevent microorganism contamination and texture deterioration in 10 days. These results suggested that the CS-graft-PVA film has an excellent promise for future food packaging applications.

Water soluble Chitosan extraction from mycelium of Alternaria solani and its field evaluation on Tomato plants

Growing consumer awareness towards the use of chemical fertilizers, researchers investigate on alternative ecofriendly fertilizer to increase the yield potential of crop plants. Chitosan has been used as a potential alternate to chemical fertilizer. However, the insolubility of commercial chitosan in aqueous media restricts its wide application in agriculture. Therefore, this study aims to isolate a water soluble chitosan from Alternaria solani. A water soluble polysaccharide has been extracted from the mycelium of A. solani. TLC, IR and NMR spectral analyses indicated that the isolated polysaccharide as chitosan (AsCn). Foliar application of water soluble chitosan to tomato plants significantly enhanced the vegetative growth and yield when compared to commercial chitosan and untreated control. Our results demonstrated that AsCn is an effective natural fertilizer to enhance the yield of tomato.

Remediation of zinc-contaminated soils by using the two-step washing with citric acid and water-soluble chitosan

Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil with appropriate washing agents is crucial to the decline in the harmfulness of contaminated soil by heavy metals to the environment and human health. In this study, citric acid (CA) and water-soluble chitosan (WSCS) as natural and degradable washing agents were used to remove Zn in the soil by two-step washing method. Results indicated that the two-step washing with CA and WSCS were found to be suitable for the removal of Zn from the contaminated soils, which significantly decreased the total concentration of Zn in the soil. After the remediation process with two-step soil washing, the contents of Zn in different chemical species decreased, especially for the carbonate-bound fraction. Therefore, the two-step soil washing with CA and WSCS was advisable for the remediation of Zn-contaminated soils. The washing mechanism could include the acid dissolution, ion exchange and complexation reaction between zinc ions and functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine and amide groups. This study provided the theoretical support for the exploitation and application of suitable washing agents used for the remediation of contaminated soils by heavy metals.