What happens when chitin becomes chitosan? A single-molecule study.

ABSTRACT: Chitin and chitosan are important support structures for many organisms and are important renewable macromolecular biomass resources. Structurally, with the removal of acetyl group, the solubility of chitosan is improved. However, the specific mechanism of solubility enhancement from chitin to chitosan is still unclear. In this study, the atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) was used to obtain the single-chain mechanical behavior of chitin and chitosan. The results show that the hydrogen (H)-bonds' state, which can be influenced by the solvent, determines the degree of binding water (solubility) of polysaccharides, and that the binding water energy of a single chitosan chain is 6 times higher than that of chitin in water. Thus, H-bonding is the key

SUBMITTER: Qian L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9841443 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature