Chitin Chitosan Oligosaccharides And Their Derivatives

Biopolymers found in marine animals and plants offer tremendous, largely untapped pharmaceutical potential. Research shows that these biopolymers can be used to combat various infectious as well as inflammatory, oxidative, and carcinogenic factors. Chitin, Chitosan, Oligosaccharides and Their Derivatives: Biological Activities and Applications cove

A natural long-chain polymer, chitin is the main component of the cell walls of fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods (including crustaceans and insects), the radulas of mollusks, and the beaks and internal shells of cephalopods. However, marine crustacean shells are the primary sources of the chitin derivative chitosan. Chitin and chitosan are useful for various biological and biomedical applications, although they have been limited by poor solubility in the past. Current research focuses on increasing their solubility and bioactivity through molecular modifications. The resulting derivatives are receiving much attention for interesting properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and nontoxicity, that make them suitable for use in the biomedical field. Chitin and Chitosan Derivatives: Advances in Drug Discovery and Developments presents current research trends in the synthesis of chitin and chitosan derivatives, their biological activities, and their biomedical applications. Part I discusses basic information about the synthesis and characterization of a variety of derivatives, including the preparation of chitin nanofibers. Part II covers chitin and chitosan modifications as the basis for biological applications. It describes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, anticoagulant, and antimicrobial activities. Part III addresses chemically modified and composite materials of chitin and chitosan derivatives for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, nanomedicine, drug delivery, and wound dressing. A must-have reference for novices and experts in biotechnology, natural products, materials science, nutraceuticals, and biomedical engineering, this book presents a wide range of biological and biomedical applications of chitin and chitosan derivatives for drug discovery and development.

The book provides an overview of bio-manufacturing techniques for the production, purification, characterization and modification of chito/chitin oligosaccharides and their monomers. In addition, it explores potential applications in the food, biomedical and agricultural industry on the basis of their bioactivities and biomaterial properties. Lastly, it shares a range of cutting-edge insights to help solve problems in industrial processes and promote further academic investigation. Given its scope, it offers a valuable resource for researchers and graduate students in the fields of bioengineering, food science, biochemistry, etc.

Functional advanced biopolymers have received far less attention than renewable biomass (cellulose, rubber, etc.) used for energy production. Among the most advanced biopolymers known is chitosan. The term chitosan refers to a family of polysaccharides obtained by partial de-N-acetylation from chitin, one of the most abundant renewable resources in the biosphere. Chitosan has been firmly established as having unique material properties as well as biological activities. Either in its native form or as a chemical derivative, chitosan is amenable to being processed—typically under mild conditions—into soft materials such as hydrogels, colloidal nanoparticles, or nanofibers. Given its multiple biological properties, including biodegradability, antimicrobial effects, gene transfectability, and metal adsorption—to name but a few—chitosan is regarded as a widely versatile building block in various sectors (e.g., agriculture, food, cosmetics, pharmacy) and for various applications (medical devices, metal adsorption, catalysis, etc.). This Special Issue presents an updated account addressing some of the major applications, including also chemical and enzymatic modifications of oligos and polymers. A better understanding of the properties that underpin the use of chitin and chitosan in different fields is key for boosting their more extensive industrial utilization, as well as to aid regulatory agencies in establishing specifications, guidelines, and standards for the different types of products and applications.

This book reviews work that covers everything from basic chemistry to advanced applications. Chitin and chitosan are used in a plethora of applications from wastewater treatment to prosthetics. After introducing the subject of polysaccharides as a whole, the authors turn to the preparation of chitin and chitosan and the characterization of the latter. The book provides information on chitin chemistry, extraction of chitin, chitosan preparation processes, and the applications of their derivatives in various fields. Among the applications that are included in detail are the adsorption of heavy metals for pollution prevention and clean-up, biosensors, cosmetics, various medical applications from anti-tumor activity to bone tissue engineering, agriculture and food production, and proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. Chitin and Chitosan features: • information on molecular structure, synthesis, properties, and latest research related to chitin and chitosan; • coverage of a wide range of topics from the properties of chitosan to its derivatives and applications; • in-depth information on biomedical applications of chitin and chitosan; and • information that can be applied to other biopolymer processing engineering areas. This book will be of interest to practitioners working in a wide variety of industries for which chitin and chitosan are useful materials, researchers in biosensors and heavy-metal adsorption, and to academic researchers investigating the properties, preparation, and uses of these materials.

This book outlines the production of chitooligossacharides and their derivatives and discusses their main biological activities, biomedical applications and their role in disease prevention. Chitooligosaccharides are products of chitosan or chitin degradation, prepared by enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis of chitosan, and they consist mainly of N-acetyl glucosamine and glucosamine bonded with a glycosidic bond. Compared to chitin and chitosan, chitooligossacharides offer advantages for large-scale and commercial applications due to their solubility in water and lower molecular weight. Written by leading experts, this book is divided into four parts. The first part provides a general introduction to chitooligossacharides. The second part focuses on the bioproduction of chitooligossacharides through enzymatic synthesis and also covers physical and chemical methods of synthesis. The third part explores the major biological activities of chitooligosaccharides, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and neuroprotective activities, and discusses the disease preventing mechanisms of chitooligosaccharides. In this section, readers will also find about the latest in vivo studies which support the use of chitooligosaccharides in the prevention and control of disease. The final part highlights important biomedical applications of chitooligosaccharides, including in tissue engineering, drug delivery and wound healing applications. It also includes the volume editor’s perspective on the health and safety risks of chitooligosaccharides. Given its scope, this book is useful not only for researches in the field but also for students interested in biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, marine biotechnology, nutraceuticals and food science.

The main driving force behind the development of new applications for chitin and its derivative chitosan lies with the fact that these polysaccharides represent a renewable source of natural biodegradable polymers. Since chitin is the second most abundant natural polymer, academic as well as industrial scientists are faced with a great challenge to find new and practical applications for this material. This book provides an examination of the state of the art, and discusses new applications as well as potential products. Applications of Chitin and Chitosan deals almost exclusively with applications. Previous books in the field have devoted less than 30% of their material to commercial or medical uses. In the past thirty years, substantial progress has been made on fundamental and applied research in chitosan technology. One of the driving forces behind this rapid development has been the decrease in the supply of natural resources. At the same time there has been an increased realization that there are abundant alternative bioresources. Two factors-economics and versatility-have also stimulated interest in chitosan's utilization in various fields. Chitin and chitosan derivatives have applications in fields that range from fertilizers to pharmaceuticals. Chitosan is no longer just a waste by-product from the seafood processing industry. This material is now being utilized by industry to solve problems and to improve existing products, as well as to create new ones. Applications of Chitin and Chitosan is illustrated with over 100 photos, charts, graphs and figures and more than 40 tables. Applications of Chitin and Chitosan will be of interest to industrial personnel involved in bioprocessing as well as bioengineering students, specialists in the biomedical and biopharmaceutical industry, biochemists, food engineers, environmentalists, and microbiologists and biologists who specialize in chitosan technology. Publication: Fall 1996.

This book delves deeply in to the preparation, characterization and multiple applications of chitin and chitosan. The 17 chapters written by leading experts is an excellent reference source and state-of-the-art review for researchers and scientists using chitosan or biopolymers in their respective areas. This book is divided into following sections: • Production and derivatives of chitosan • Chitosan in the textile and food industries • Chitosan in biomedical applications • Chitosan in agriculture and water treatment The book is practical as readers will be able to see descriptions of chitosan production methods as well as techniques that can be used to estimate and modify their physical and chemical properties. It provides a full description not only of the traditional and recent developments in the applications of chitosan in the fields of biotechnology, environmental studies, food, medicine, water treatments, drug delivery, but it includes all of the therapeutically usages as well.