Abstract / Description of output
Originally discovered in mushrooms, chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer on earth. It is preponderant in the exoskeletons of arthropods such as crabs, shrimps, arachnids, insects and scorpions, in the cell walls (hyphae) of fungi, and in the radulae of molluscs. Chitin is a structural polysaccharide (based on sugars) with broad application potential in a range of industrial sectors. Chitosan, a derivative of chitin, is increasingly being used in the biomedical and biotechnology sectors. This brief article discusses the extraction of chitin and its chemical conversion to a commonly used derivative, chitosan. The article will furthermore detail the application potential of chitosan as a biomaterial
| Original language | English |
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| Media of output | Technical Community Website |
| Publisher | Natural Materials Association, IOM3 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Jul 2020 |