By PT Biotech Surindo

12/13/2010
Chitosan: Definition, Uses and Applications

What is Chitosan
Chitosan is produced commercially by deacetylation of chitin , which is found in the exoskeleton of crustaceans (crabs, shrimp, etc.) and cell walls of fungi. The degree of deacetylation in commercial chitosan ranged from 60-100 %. Chitosan is a biological product with cationic (positive electrical charge) properties. This is very interesting, because most polysaccharides like chitosan are neutral or negatively charged.



Chitosan For Future
Applications of chitosan are growing rapidly. Not only due to its wide range of applications but also due to increasing environmental awareness to the biodegradable and non-toxic products from 'natural' sources such as chitin and chitosan are become more appealing to replace synthetic compounds. Moreover, in cosmetic and in biopharmaceutical industries, chitosan has exclusive properties which are not found in other synthetic products.

Chitosan For Medical uses:
In the field of health, chitosans properties (bacteriostatic, immunologic, antitumoral, cicatrizant, hemostatic and anticoagulant) are very interesting. For example, because of its biocompatibility with human tissue, chitosan's cicatrizant properties have proven to be effective as a component, notably, in all types of dressings (artificial skin, corneal dressings, etc.), surgical sutures, dental implants, and in rebuilding bones and gums. Other applications that currently being developed include: artificial skin, surgical sutures that are absorbed naturally after an operation, and corneal contact lenses. Finally, chitosan delivers and time-releases drugs used to treat animals and humans. There are many potential chitosan applications in the health field but the development requires components that comply with strict pharmaceutical-grade requirements.
Possible applications include:
· Surgical sutures
· Ophthalmology
· Orthopedics
· Pharmaceutical products (delivery agent)
· Contact lenses
· Absorbs and binds fat / promotes weight loss
· Inhibits LDL Cholesterol and boosts HDL Cholesterol
· Promotes healing of ulcers and lesions
· Antibacterial and acts as an antacid
· Inhibits the formation of plaque/tooth decay
· Helps to control blood pressure
· Helps to prevent constipation
· Calcium Enhancer/Bone Strengthener
· Reduces blood levels of Uric Acid
· Anti-Tumor Action

Chitosan For Food:
Chitosan is already used as a food ingredient in Japan, Europe, and the United States as a lipid trap, an important dietetic breakthrough. Since chitosan is not digested by the human body, it acts as a fiber, a crucial diet component. It has the unique property of being able to bind lipids arriving in the intestine, thereby reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the human body by 20 to 30%. Chitosan has thickening and stabilizing properties, which are essential in preparation of sauces and other culinary dishes that must hold their consistency well. Finally, as a flocculating agent, chitosan can be used to clarify beverages. Because of its phytosanitary properties, it can be sprayed in dilute form on foods such as fruits and vegetables, creating a protective, antibacterial, fungi static film. In Japan, a dilute solution of chitosan is commonly sprayed on apples and oranges as a protective measure. There are many other applications in the areas of nutraceutical and nutritional supplements, especially for the chemically or enzymatically modified chitosan.
Principal commercial applications include:
· Preservatives
· Food stabilizers
· Animal feed additives
· Anti-cholesterol additives (fat traps)
Technically speaking, Chitosan is a natural substance that is chemically similar to cellulose which is a plant fiber. Like plant fibers, Chitosan possesses similar properties like fibers, however, unlike plant fiber, it can bind fat significantly, acting like a "fat sponge" in the digestive tract.
Like some plant fibers, Chitosan can’t be digested, so it has no caloric value. No matter how much Chitosan you take, it doesn’t add calories to the body. This is very important for any weight loss product.

Chitosan For Wound Healing:
Internal chitosan bandages are effective in making rapid hemostasis in large surgical and traumatic lacerations of the aorta, liver, lung, kidney and cardiac ventricles. Chitosan reduces blood coagulation time (BCT) significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Chitosan has also been shown to be effective in promoting clotting. Wound dressings permeated with chitosan are used in hospital to promote rapid clotting. Since chitosan is non-toxic and doesn’t have any side effect, it can be used in a wide variety of patients with a high degree of safety.

Chitosan For Cosmetics:
Chitosan forms a protective, moisturizing, elastic film on the surface of the skin that has the ability to bind other ingredients that act on the skin. In this way, chitosan can be used in formulating moisturizing agents such as sunscreens, organic acids, etc. to enhance their bioactivity and effectiveness. Today, chitosan is an essential component in skin-care creams, shampoos, and hairsprays due to its antibacterial properties. Many patents have been registered and new applications are just beginning to appear including the most highly prized moisturizing and antibacterial properties. Applications include
· Maintain skin moisture
· Treat acne
· Tone skin
· Protect the epidermis
· Reduce static electricity in hair
· Fight dandruff
· Improve suppleness of hair
· Make hair softer
Chitosan For Paper
· Chitosan strenghthen recycled paper
· Increase environmental-friendliness of packaging
· Chitosan molecules greatly resemble those of cellulose the main constituent of plant walls.
· Saves chemical additives
· Smoother surface
· More resistance to moisture
· Great value in the production of toilet paper and for wrapping paper and cardboard

Chitosan For water treatment:
At present, physicochemical-type treatment is widely used at potable and wastewater treatment plants. The major disadvantage of using synthetic chemical products is: it can pollute surrounding environment. Therefore, wastewater treatment using "greener" methods has become an ecological necessity. Chitosan, due to its natural properties and being biodegradable, has proven to be a most interesting alternative from several points of view. Integrating a natural polymer made of crustacean residue into an existing system achieves a two-fold purpose: it improves the effectiveness of water treatment while reducing or even eliminating synthetic chemical products such as aluminum sulphate and synthetic polymers. Here are a few characteristics of chitosan that offer an ecological solution:
· Natural and biodegradable
· A powerful competitor for synthetic chemical products
· Potentially reduces the use of alum by up to 60% and eliminates 100% of the polymers from the treated water
· Improves system performance (suspended solids and chemical oxygen demand)
· Significantly reduces odor


Chitosan is used in some processes like detoxifying water. When chitosan is spread over the surface of water, it literally absorbs greases, oils, heavy metals and other potentially toxic substances. Like a "fat magnet," it attracts these bio-hazardous substances from drinking water to such an extent that a scum forms in the water, which can be easily removed. Water purification plants throughout the nation use Chitosan for this purpose. This indicated to scientists that Chitosan can selectively absorb fats even in a water medium.