Recent developments in antibacterial and antifungal chitosan and its derivatives.
Chitosan is the deacetylated form of chitin, a biopolymer that can be obtained from various waste streams and shows antimicrobial activity against different fungi, gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Although chitosan has been studied for years, many aspects remain unclear. This review gives an overview of the antimicrobial activity of chitosan and novel chitosan derivatives of the last 15 years. The most important parameters (molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, etc.) are discussed along with a status update on the mode of action of chitosan.
Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Arno
A
Verlee
Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Stein
S
Mincke
Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Chris.Stevens@UGent.be.
Christian V
CV
Stevens
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan
Antimicrobial activity and mode of action; Chitosan; Chitosan derivatives