30 Jan 2026

Well-Defined Glycopolymer Chitosan Mimics for Design of Chitosan Nanocomposites

Abstract: Chitosan, a naturally derived polysaccharide with intriguing antimicrobial and polycationic properties, is highly desirable as a biosourced and biodegradable material for biomedical, food packaging, and personal care applications. Its inherent high levels of variability in molecular weight, dispersity, and degree of deacetylation, however, make the establishment of structure− property−processing relationships difficult and limit materials development. In this study, a novel methacrylate-based glycomonomer with saccharide structure similar to that of chitosan was synthesized and copolymerized with methyl methacrylate via reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization to create a series of well-defined chitosan mimics with controlled molecular weights and low dispersity (<1.1). Evaluation of mammalian cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus revealed performance similar to that of chitosan. The copolymers were used as models to evaluate difficult-to-probe interactions between chitosan and graphene oxide (GO) and elucidate mechanisms of mechanical property improvements observed in chitosan/GO nanocomposite films.

29 Jul 2022

Chitosan as a Coagulant and Precipitant of Algae Present in Backwater

PURPOSE: : The purpose of this technical note (TN) is to highlight the current state of knowledge of algal flocculation by chitosan and identify data gaps existing between specific algal characteristics and chitosan binding efficiency. Published relationships and correlations between the quality of backwaters and the prevalence of algae, a baseline for flocculation efficiency of microalgae, and ideal treatment instances for algal removal by way of chitosan flocculation and precipitation will be identified.