Modulating the Physicochemical Properties of Chitin and Chitosan as a Method of Obtaining New Biological Properties of Biodegradable Materials

Abstract

Physical and chemical modifications of chitin and chitosan allow for obtaining new functional properties of the natural polymers. This is a particularly valuable feature for the design and manufacture of new materials for medical applications. Due to their wide and varied biological activity, chitin and chitosan materials are increasingly used as dressing materials with antibacterial and hemostatic properties and as materials accelerating the regeneration of damaged tissues because of stimulation of granulation tissue formation, re-epithelialization and reduction of the formation of scar tissue. In addition, chitosan derivatives have antifungal, antiviral, anticancer activity. The increasing use of chitin and chitosan also has a positive impact on the environment, as it is obtained as a result of chitin deacetylation, usually isolated from shellfish shells. The main source of chitin is waste coating of crustaceans. The annual natural reproducibility of chitin by biosynthesis is estimated at 2–3 billion tons. Our interest in the use of biodegradable biopolymers derived from chitin concerns the design, synthesis in laboratory scale, testing new material properties and the final implementation of new developments for industrial practice of new dressing materials useful in the treatment of bleeding wounds (haemostatic properties) as well as in the regeneration of wounds and ulcers of various etiologies. Examples of chitin-based dressing materials introduced by Tricomed SA are Medisorb R Ag, Medisorb R Membrane, Medisorb R Powder and Tromboguard®.

Modification of Alginates to Modulate Their Physic-Chemical Properties and Obtain Biomaterials with Different Functional Properties

“…Alginate derivatives are an attractive biomaterial for numerous applications, including tissue engineering, cell encapsulation, and wound healing [ 172 , 173 , 174 , 175 ], in situ formation of gels, controlled drug delivery and release systems, as well as targeted drug delivery [ 176 , 177 , 178 , 179 ]. The pool of pharmaceutical products based on alginates includes: Drugs administered orally (Gastrotuss baby syrup [ 180 ], Algicid suspension/tablets [ 181 ], Gaviscon Double Action Liquid [ 182 ] and Tablets [ 183 ]), creating a mechanical barrier between the stomach and esophagus that prevents reflux, choking, dysphagia, heartburn, belching, and irritability, which accelerates the movement of the stomach and regenerates the mucous membranes of the esophagus Materials applied to the skin (Flaminal Forte gel [ 184 ], Purilon Gel gel [ 185 ], Saf-Gel gel [ 186 ], Hyalogran dressing [ 187 ], SeaSorb dressing [ 188 ], Tromboguard dressing [ 189 , 190 ], Fibracol Plus dressing [ 191 ], Algivon dressing [ 192 ], Guardix-SG [ 193 , 194 ]), which affect dissolution of the dry layer and necrotic tissue, ensure a moist environment at the wound surface, have hemostatic and antibacterial activity, and influence tissue granulation, epithelialization, and healing Rectal agents (Natalsid suppositories [ 195 ]) used for chronic hemorrhoids, proctitis, and chronic anal fissures after rectal surgery Periodontal agents (Progenix putty, Progenix plus injection [ 196 ]), used for bone defects, and Emdogain gel [ 197 , 198 ] used for intraosseous defects and defects of mandibular furcation with minimal atrophy of the interdental bone Agents applied arthroscopically (ChondroArt 3D injection [ 199 ]), used in degenerative diseases of the joints and spine. …”

“…Materials applied to the skin (Flaminal Forte gel [ 184 ], Purilon Gel gel [ 185 ], Saf-Gel gel [ 186 ], Hyalogran dressing [ 187 ], SeaSorb dressing [ 188 ], Tromboguard dressing [ 189 , 190 ], Fibracol Plus dressing [ 191 ], Algivon dressing [ 192 ], Guardix-SG [ 193 , 194 ]), which affect dissolution of the dry layer and necrotic tissue, ensure a moist environment at the wound surface, have hemostatic and antibacterial activity, and influence tissue granulation, epithelialization, and healing…”

History repeats itself again: Will the mistakes of the past for ILs be repeated for DESs? From being considered ionic liquids to becoming their alternative: the unbalanced turn of deep eutectic solvents

“…301 Each of these structural parameters has a strong effect on the mechanism and the difficulty of chitin dissolution. On the other hand, this structural variability makes of this natural polymer an exceptional material with unique properties 302,303 like biocompatibility, non-toxicity and antimicrobial power. These features ensure that chitin and its derivative chitosan are considered excellent materials for use in the biomedical field.…”

Evaluation of chitinolytic enzymes activities during microbial biotransformation of Archachatina marginata exoskeleton to chitooligosaccharide

“…chitosan or chitin) using multiple attack mechanisms (Kaczmarek et al, 2019); where the enzyme bounded to the chitin chain caused several sequential deacetylations before binding to another chain (Aragunde et al, 2018). As a result, such de-acetylation presumably modified the physicochemical properties of the chitin polymers, and regulated their binding to the associated macromolecules (Latańska et al, 2021). This might affect the properties and architecture of the chitinbased macromolecular assemblies (Behr and Ganesan, 2022).…”