A review of the antimicrobial activity of chitosan
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 1 January 2009
- journal article
- review article
- Published by FapUNIFESP (SciELO) in Polímeros
- Vol. 19 (3), 241-247
- https://doi.org/10.1590/s0104-14282009000300013
Abstract
Chitosan, a versatile hydrophilic polysaccharide derived from chitin, has a broad antimicrobial spectrum to which gram-negative, gram-positive bacteria and fungi are highly susceptible. In the current review, three possible and accepted antimicrobial mechanisms for chitosan are presented and briefly discussed. The activity dependence on polymeric molecular weight (MW) and degree of acetylation (DA) are described. The chitosan minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) are summarized according to recent data found in the literature. The potential to improve inhibitory growth of bacteria by using water soluble chitosan derivatives is also discussed. The data indicate that the effectiveness of chitosan varies and is dependent on species of target microorganismsKeywords
This publication has 56 references indexed in Scilit:
- Characterization of chito-oligosaccharides prepared by chitosanolysis with the aid of papain and Pronase, and their bactericidal action against Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coliBiochemical Journal, 2005
- Mechanical properties of N,N,N-trimethylchitosan chloride filmsPolímeros, 2005
- Caracterização estrutural e da capacidade de absorção de água em filmes finos de quitosana processados em diversas concentraçõesPolímeros, 2003
- Optimization of Chitin Extraction from Shrimp ShellsBiomacromolecules, 2002
- AFM characterization of chitosan self-assembled filmsInternational Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials, 2002
- Antibacterial action of chitosan and carboxymethylated chitosanJournal of Applied Polymer Science, 2000
- Food applications of chitin and chitosansTrends in Food Science & Technology, 1999
- Antibacterial Effects of N-Sulfonated and N-Sulfobenzoyl Chitosan and Application to Oyster PreservationJournal of Food Protection, 1998
- Chitosan functional properties.Glycoconjugate Journal, 1997
- Antimicrobial effect of water‐soluble chitosans with high hydrostatic pressureFood Biotechnology, 1991