title: [Preparation and quality control of low molecular weight chitosan].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prepare the low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC) and establish the method for quality control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Use enzymatic degradation to prepare LMWC with chitosan, and separate by ultrafiltration; the molecular weight and purity were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and colorimetry respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LMWC was prepared by control the hours of enzymatic degradation and ultrafiltered through filter with cutoff molecular of 10K Dalton and 50 K dalton; the average molecular weight was 20 K dalton and the purity was (96.60 +/- 1.56)%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The condition of enzymatic degradation is geniality and easy to control, LMWCs with different molecular weight can separate by ultrafiltration efficiently; the quality of LMWC can control with gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and colorimetry.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmaceutical Scione, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fu-Qiang
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xiao-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Ying
mesh_terms: D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003124:Colorimetry; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011786:Quality Control; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D048271:Chitosan; D002480:Cellulase