Chitosan: A Natural Biopolymer with a Wide and Varied Range of Applications
Although chitin is of the most available biopolymers on Earth its uses and applications are limited due to its low solubility. The deacetylation of chitin leads to chitosan. This biopolymer, composed of randomly distributed β-(1-4)-linked D-units, has better physicochemical properties due to the fac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/17/3981 |
| _version_ | 1797554919806337024 |
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| author | Carmen P. Jiménez-Gómez Juan Antonio Cecilia |
| author_facet | Carmen P. Jiménez-Gómez Juan Antonio Cecilia |
| author_sort | Carmen P. Jiménez-Gómez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although chitin is of the most available biopolymers on Earth its uses and applications are limited due to its low solubility. The deacetylation of chitin leads to chitosan. This biopolymer, composed of randomly distributed β-(1-4)-linked D-units, has better physicochemical properties due to the facts that it is possible to dissolve this biopolymer under acidic conditions, it can adopt several conformations or structures and it can be functionalized with a wide range of functional groups to modulate its superficial composition to a specific application. Chitosan is considered a highly biocompatible biopolymer due to its biodegradability, bioadhesivity and bioactivity in such a way this biopolymer displays a wide range of applications. Thus, chitosan is a promising biopolymer for numerous applications in the biomedical field (skin, bone, tissue engineering, artificial kidneys, nerves, livers, wound healing). This biopolymer is also employed to trap both organic compounds and dyes or for the selective separation of binary mixtures. In addition, chitosan can also be used as catalyst or can be used as starting molecule to obtain high added value products. Considering these premises, this review is focused on the structure and modification of chitosan as well as its uses and applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:38:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99e1fa1e61a745389b8e0ecf19589ffe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:38:56Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-99e1fa1e61a745389b8e0ecf19589ffe2023-11-20T12:09:49ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492020-09-012517398110.3390/molecules25173981Chitosan: A Natural Biopolymer with a Wide and Varied Range of ApplicationsCarmen P. Jiménez-Gómez0Juan Antonio Cecilia1Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Cristalografía y Mineralogía (Unidad Asociada al ICP-CSIC), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, SpainDepartamento de Química Inorgánica, Cristalografía y Mineralogía (Unidad Asociada al ICP-CSIC), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, SpainAlthough chitin is of the most available biopolymers on Earth its uses and applications are limited due to its low solubility. The deacetylation of chitin leads to chitosan. This biopolymer, composed of randomly distributed β-(1-4)-linked D-units, has better physicochemical properties due to the facts that it is possible to dissolve this biopolymer under acidic conditions, it can adopt several conformations or structures and it can be functionalized with a wide range of functional groups to modulate its superficial composition to a specific application. Chitosan is considered a highly biocompatible biopolymer due to its biodegradability, bioadhesivity and bioactivity in such a way this biopolymer displays a wide range of applications. Thus, chitosan is a promising biopolymer for numerous applications in the biomedical field (skin, bone, tissue engineering, artificial kidneys, nerves, livers, wound healing). This biopolymer is also employed to trap both organic compounds and dyes or for the selective separation of binary mixtures. In addition, chitosan can also be used as catalyst or can be used as starting molecule to obtain high added value products. Considering these premises, this review is focused on the structure and modification of chitosan as well as its uses and applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/17/3981chitinchitosanbiomaterialadsorbentantioxidanthigh added value product |
| spellingShingle | Carmen P. Jiménez-Gómez Juan Antonio Cecilia Chitosan: A Natural Biopolymer with a Wide and Varied Range of Applications Molecules chitin chitosan biomaterial adsorbent antioxidant high added value product |
| title | Chitosan: A Natural Biopolymer with a Wide and Varied Range of Applications |
| title_full | Chitosan: A Natural Biopolymer with a Wide and Varied Range of Applications |
| title_fullStr | Chitosan: A Natural Biopolymer with a Wide and Varied Range of Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chitosan: A Natural Biopolymer with a Wide and Varied Range of Applications |
| title_short | Chitosan: A Natural Biopolymer with a Wide and Varied Range of Applications |
| title_sort | chitosan a natural biopolymer with a wide and varied range of applications |
| topic | chitin chitosan biomaterial adsorbent antioxidant high added value product |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/17/3981 |
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