Chitin, Chitosan and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobials and/or Mitigators of Water
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health problem, exacerbated by the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in human medicine, animal care and agriculture. Therefore, new strategies and compounds are needed to overcome this issue. In this view, it may be appropriate to reconsi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Macromol |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6209/5/2/15 |
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| author | Eva Scarcelli Alessia Catalano Domenico Iacopetta Jessica Ceramella Maria Stefania Sinicropi Francesca Aiello |
| author_facet | Eva Scarcelli Alessia Catalano Domenico Iacopetta Jessica Ceramella Maria Stefania Sinicropi Francesca Aiello |
| author_sort | Eva Scarcelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health problem, exacerbated by the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in human medicine, animal care and agriculture. Therefore, new strategies and compounds are needed to overcome this issue. In this view, it may be appropriate to reconsider existing biomaterials to alleviate antibiotic overuse. Chitin, a naturally abundant amino mucopolysaccharide, is a poly-β-1, 4-<i>N</i>-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). It is a white, hard, inelastic, nitrogenous polysaccharide and the major source of surface pollution in coastal areas. Chitosan derives from the partial <i>N</i>-deacetylation of chitin and originates from the shells of crustaceans and the fungi cell walls. It is a nontoxic natural antimicrobial polymer approved by GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe by the United States Food and Drug Administration). Chitin and chitosan, as non-toxic biopolymers, are useful compounds for wastewater treatment to remove pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, heavy metals and dyes. The described features make these biopolymers intriguing compounds to be investigated for their application as antibacterials. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cb88c7b771d34ac1b577c4b1ef811edf |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-6209 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Macromol |
| spelling | doaj-art-cb88c7b771d34ac1b577c4b1ef811edf2025-08-20T02:21:04ZengMDPI AGMacromol2673-62092025-04-01521510.3390/macromol5020015Chitin, Chitosan and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobials and/or Mitigators of WaterEva Scarcelli0Alessia Catalano1Domenico Iacopetta2Jessica Ceramella3Maria Stefania Sinicropi4Francesca Aiello5Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, ItalyAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health problem, exacerbated by the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics in human medicine, animal care and agriculture. Therefore, new strategies and compounds are needed to overcome this issue. In this view, it may be appropriate to reconsider existing biomaterials to alleviate antibiotic overuse. Chitin, a naturally abundant amino mucopolysaccharide, is a poly-β-1, 4-<i>N</i>-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). It is a white, hard, inelastic, nitrogenous polysaccharide and the major source of surface pollution in coastal areas. Chitosan derives from the partial <i>N</i>-deacetylation of chitin and originates from the shells of crustaceans and the fungi cell walls. It is a nontoxic natural antimicrobial polymer approved by GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe by the United States Food and Drug Administration). Chitin and chitosan, as non-toxic biopolymers, are useful compounds for wastewater treatment to remove pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, heavy metals and dyes. The described features make these biopolymers intriguing compounds to be investigated for their application as antibacterials.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6209/5/2/15chitinchitosanantimicrobialheavy metalswastewater treatmentAMR |
| spellingShingle | Eva Scarcelli Alessia Catalano Domenico Iacopetta Jessica Ceramella Maria Stefania Sinicropi Francesca Aiello Chitin, Chitosan and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobials and/or Mitigators of Water Macromol chitin chitosan antimicrobial heavy metals wastewater treatment AMR |
| title | Chitin, Chitosan and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobials and/or Mitigators of Water |
| title_full | Chitin, Chitosan and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobials and/or Mitigators of Water |
| title_fullStr | Chitin, Chitosan and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobials and/or Mitigators of Water |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chitin, Chitosan and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobials and/or Mitigators of Water |
| title_short | Chitin, Chitosan and Its Derivatives: Antimicrobials and/or Mitigators of Water |
| title_sort | chitin chitosan and its derivatives antimicrobials and or mitigators of water |
| topic | chitin chitosan antimicrobial heavy metals wastewater treatment AMR |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6209/5/2/15 |
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