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International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2020Chitosan is a product of the deacetylation of chitin, which is widely found in nature. Chitosan is insoluble in water and most organic solvents, which seriously limits... (Review)
Review
Chitosan is a product of the deacetylation of chitin, which is widely found in nature. Chitosan is insoluble in water and most organic solvents, which seriously limits both its application scope and applicable fields. However, chitosan contains active functional groups that are liable to chemical reactions; thus, chitosan derivatives can be obtained through the chemical modification of chitosan. The modification of chitosan has been an important aspect of chitosan research, showing a better solubility, pH-sensitive targeting, an increased number of delivery systems, etc. This review summarizes the modification of chitosan by acylation, carboxylation, alkylation, and quaternization in order to improve the water solubility, pH sensitivity, and the targeting of chitosan derivatives. The applications of chitosan derivatives in the antibacterial, sustained slowly release, targeting, and delivery system fields are also described. Chitosan derivatives will have a large impact and show potential in biomedicine for the development of drugs in future.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chitosan; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Solubility
PubMed: 31940963
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020487 -
Marine Drugs Mar 2015This review describes the most common methods for recovery of chitin from marine organisms. In depth, both enzymatic and chemical treatments for the step of... (Review)
Review
This review describes the most common methods for recovery of chitin from marine organisms. In depth, both enzymatic and chemical treatments for the step of deproteinization are compared, as well as different conditions for demineralization. The conditions of chitosan preparation are also discussed, since they significantly impact the synthesis of chitosan with varying degree of acetylation (DA) and molecular weight (MW). In addition, the main characterization techniques applied for chitin and chitosan are recalled, pointing out the role of their solubility in relation with the chemical structure (mainly the acetyl group distribution along the backbone). Biological activities are also presented, such as: antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor and antioxidant. Interestingly, the relationship between chemical structure and biological activity is demonstrated for chitosan molecules with different DA and MW and homogeneous distribution of acetyl groups for the first time. In the end, several selected pharmaceutical and biomedical applications are presented, in which chitin and chitosan are recognized as new biomaterials taking advantage of their biocompatibility and biodegradability.
Topics: Acetylation; Animals; Aquatic Organisms; Chitin; Chitosan; Humans; Molecular Weight; Solubility
PubMed: 25738328
DOI: 10.3390/md13031133 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2023The purpose of this Special Issue was to review research focusing on the development of formulations based on chitosan or its derivatives together with other molecules,...
The purpose of this Special Issue was to review research focusing on the development of formulations based on chitosan or its derivatives together with other molecules, producing biomaterials with improved physicochemical properties and effects [...].
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Chitosan
PubMed: 38003340
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216150 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2019Fighting bacterial resistance is one of the concerns in modern days, as antibiotics remain the main resource of bacterial control. Data shows that for every antibiotic... (Review)
Review
Fighting bacterial resistance is one of the concerns in modern days, as antibiotics remain the main resource of bacterial control. Data shows that for every antibiotic developed, there is a microorganism that becomes resistant to it. Natural polymers, as the source of antibacterial agents, offer a new way to fight bacterial infection. The advantage over conventional synthetic antibiotics is that natural antimicrobial agents are biocompatible, non-toxic, and inexpensive. Chitosan is one of the natural polymers that represent a very promising source for the development of antimicrobial agents. In addition, chitosan is biodegradable, non-toxic, and most importantly, promotes wound healing, features that makes it suitable as a starting material for wound dressings. This paper reviews the antimicrobial properties of chitosan and describes the mechanisms of action toward microbial cells as well as the interactions with mammalian cells in terms of wound healing process. Finally, the applications of chitosan as a wound-dressing material are discussed along with the current status of chitosan-based wound dressings existing on the market.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Bacteria; Bandages; Biocompatible Materials; Cell Wall; Chitosan; DNA, Bacterial; Fungi; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Wound Healing
PubMed: 31771245
DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235889 -
Marine Drugs Aug 2022Mucoadhesive polymers are of growing interest in the field of drug delivery due to their ability to interact with the body's mucosa and increase the effectiveness of the... (Review)
Review
Mucoadhesive polymers are of growing interest in the field of drug delivery due to their ability to interact with the body's mucosa and increase the effectiveness of the drug. Excellent mucoadhesive performance is typically observed for polymers possessing charged groups or non-ionic functional groups capable of forming hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions with mucosal surfaces. Among mucoadhesive polymers, marine carbohydrate biopolymers have been attracting attention due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability, sample functional groups, strong water absorption and favorable physiochemical properties. Despite the large number of works devoted to mucoadhesive polymers, there are very few systematic studies on the influence of structural features of marine polysaccharides on mucoadhesive interactions. The purpose of this review is to characterize the mucoadhesive properties of marine carbohydrates with a focus on chitosan, carrageenan, alginate and their use in designing drug delivery systems. A wide variety of methods which have been used to characterize mucoadhesive properties of marine polysaccharides are presented in this review. Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems based on such polysaccharides are characterized by simplicity and ease of use in the form of tablets, gels and films through oral, buccal, transbuccal and local routes of administration.
Topics: Carbohydrates; Chitosan; Drug Delivery Systems; Polymers; Polysaccharides; Tablets
PubMed: 36005525
DOI: 10.3390/md20080522 -
Chemistry (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Dec 2022Polymer alternatives sourced from nature have attracted increasing attention for applications in medicine, cosmetics, agriculture, food, water purification, and more.... (Review)
Review
Polymer alternatives sourced from nature have attracted increasing attention for applications in medicine, cosmetics, agriculture, food, water purification, and more. Among them, chitosan is the most versatile due to its full biodegradability, exceptional biocompatibility, multipurpose bioactivity, and low toxicity. Although remarkable progress has been made in its synthetic modification by using C3/C6 secondary/primary hydroxy (-OH) and the C2 amino (-NH ) active sites, its solubility under physiological conditions remains limited and has hampered larger-scale adoption. This review summarizes different synthetic methods that increase chitosan's hydrophilicity and water solubility by using covalent modifications, namely amino acid addition, quaternary ammonium formation, phosphorylation, and carboxymethylation. We also review several applications for each type of substitution in fields such as cosmetics, medicine, agriculture, and water purification, and provide an outlook and perspective for future modifications and implementations.
Topics: Chitosan; Solubility; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
PubMed: 36073726
DOI: 10.1002/chem.202202156 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021Chitin is among the most abundant natural polysaccharides [...].
Chitin is among the most abundant natural polysaccharides [...].
Topics: Chitosan
PubMed: 33806913
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061805 -
Marine Drugs Jan 2022Chitosan obtained from abundant marine resources has been proven to have a variety of biological activities. However, due to its poor water solubility, chitosan... (Review)
Review
Chitosan obtained from abundant marine resources has been proven to have a variety of biological activities. However, due to its poor water solubility, chitosan application is limited, and the degradation products of chitosan oligosaccharides are better than chitosan regarding performance. Chitosan oligosaccharides have two kinds of active groups, amino and hydroxyl groups, which can form a variety of derivatives, and the properties of these derivatives can be further improved. In this review, the key structures of chitosan oligosaccharides and recent studies on chitosan oligosaccharide derivatives, including their synthesis methods, are described. Finally, the antimicrobial and antitumor applications of chitosan oligosaccharides and their derivatives are discussed.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Aquatic Organisms; Chitosan; Oligosaccharides; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 35049924
DOI: 10.3390/md20010069 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2020Chitosan derivatives, and more specifically, glycosylated derivatives, are nowadays attracting much attention within the scientific community due to the fact that this... (Review)
Review
Chitosan derivatives, and more specifically, glycosylated derivatives, are nowadays attracting much attention within the scientific community due to the fact that this set of engineered polysaccharides finds application in different sectors, spanning from food to the biomedical field. Overcoming chitosan (physical) limitations or grafting biological relevant molecules, to mention a few, represent two cardinal strategies to modify parent biopolymer; thereby, synthetizing high added value polysaccharides. The present review is focused on the introduction of oligosaccharide side chains on the backbone of chitosan. The synthetic aspects and the effect on physical-chemical properties of such modifications are discussed. Finally, examples of potential applications in biomaterials design and drug delivery of these novel modified chitosans are disclosed.
Topics: Animals; Biocompatible Materials; Chitosan; Drug Delivery Systems; Glycosylation; Humans; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Nanoparticles; Oligosaccharides; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 32230971
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25071534 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2022Chitosan is a biodegradable and biocompatible polysaccharide obtained by partial deacetylation of chitin. This polymer has been gaining increasing popularity due to its... (Review)
Review
Chitosan is a biodegradable and biocompatible polysaccharide obtained by partial deacetylation of chitin. This polymer has been gaining increasing popularity due to its natural origin, favorable physicochemical properties, and multidirectional bioactivity. In agriculture, the greatest hopes are raised by the possibility of using chitosan as a biostimulant, a plant protection product, an elicitor, or an agent to increase the storage stability of plant raw materials. The most important properties of chitosan include induction of plant defense mechanisms and regulation of metabolic processes. Additionally, it has antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant activity. The effectiveness of chitosan interactions is determined by its origin, deacetylation degree and acetylation pattern, molecular weight, type of chemical modifications, pH, concentration, and solubility. There is a need to conduct research on alternative sources of chitosan, extraction methods, optimization of physicochemical properties, and commercial implementation of scientific progress outcomes in this field. Moreover, studies are necessary to assess the bioactivity and toxicity of chitosan nanoparticles and chitosan conjugates with other substances and to evaluate the consequences of the large-scale use thereof. This review presents the unique properties of chitosan and its derivatives that have the greatest importance for plant production and yield quality as well as the benefits and limitations of their application.
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Chitin; Chitosan; Molecular Weight; Plants
PubMed: 35566152
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092801