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Advance in Preparation and Application of Chitosan, Chitin and Their Composites II

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 10407

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Keiko Shirai

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Biopolymers and Pilot Plant of Bioprocessing of Agro-Industrial and Food By-Products, Biotechnology Department, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Distrito Federal, Mexico City, Mexico
Interests: biopolymers; bioprocess; biomanufacturing; biomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Maribel Plascencia-Jatomea

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Laboratory of Microbiology and Mycotoxins, Academy of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Department of Research and Postgraduate in Food Science, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico
Interests: bioactive compounds; biocomposites; functional polymers; toxicity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Neith Aracely Pacheco López

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Guest Editor

Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design of the State of Jalisco, AC. Southeast Unit, Zapopan 97302, Mexico
Interests: biopolymers; chitosan; bioactive compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chitin and chitosan are polymers with linear backbones composed of randomly distributed D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units are predominant in chitin, which can be deacetylated for chitosan production. Solutions, edible films, coatings, hydrogels, fibers, nanostructured and electrospun materials, as well as composites have been formulated with chitosan and chitin. These materials present biodegradability, biocompatibility, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities, as well as suitable mechanical and barrier properties. At present, the use of chitosan for the design of functional composites and biomaterials has increased for many applications, such as a sorbent for the removal of organic and inorganic environmental pollutants in water, textile, paper, and pulp, wound dressings, bio-based medicine with natural ingredients, drug and gene delivery systems, regenerative medicine, biopesticides, active coatings, sensors, and the food and beverage industries. Contributions to this Special Issue covering processing, modifications, applications of chitosan, chitin, composites, and their derivatives are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Keiko Shirai
Prof. Dr. Maribel Plascencia-Jatomea
Dr. Neith Aracely Pacheco López
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

composites
water treatment
biomaterials
biopolymers
active coatings
drug delivery systems
microencapsulation

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 8838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Wastewater with Poly-ε-Caprolactone-Reinforced Chitosan Composite

by Manuel E. Martínez, José René Rangel-Méndez, Miquel Gimeno, Alberto Tecante, Gretchen T. Lapidus and Keiko Shirai

Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5196; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235196 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1875

Abstract

Currently, the requirements for adsorbent materials are based on their environmentally friendly production and biodegradability. However, they are also related to the design of materials to sustain many cycles in pursuit of low cost and profitable devices for water treatments. In this regard, a chitosan reinforced with poly-ε-caprolactone thermoplastic composite was prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy; Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, mechanical properties, as well as erosion and swelling assays. The isotherm and kinetic data were fitted with Freundlich and pseudo-second-order models, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium capacities at pH 6 of Zn(II), Cu(II), Fe(II), and Al(III) were 165.59 ± 3.41 mg/g, 3.91 ± 0.02 mg/g, 10.72 ± 0.11 mg/g, and 1.99 ± 0.22 mg/g, respectively. The adsorbent material lost approximately 6% of the initial mass in the adsorption-desorption processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Preparation and Application of Chitosan, Chitin and Their Composites II)

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17 pages, 2186 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Chitosan on Plant Physiology, Wound Response, and Fruit Quality of Tomato

by Fatima El Amerany, Mohammed Rhazi, Gerd Balcke, Said Wahbi, Abdelilah Meddich, Moha Taourirte and Bettina Hause

Polymers 2022, 14(22), 5006; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14225006 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2587

Abstract

In agriculture, chitosan has become popular as a metabolic enhancer; however, no deep information has been obtained yet regarding its mechanisms on vegetative tissues. This work was conducted to test the impact of chitosan applied at different plant growth stages on plant development, physiology, and response to wounding as well as fruit shape and composition. Five concentrations of chitosan were tested on tomato. The most effective chitosan doses that increased leaf number, leaf area, plant biomass, and stomatal conductance were 0.75 and 1 mg mL⁻¹. Chitosan (1 mg mL⁻¹) applied as foliar spray increased the levels of jasmonoyl–isoleucine and abscisic acid in wounded roots. The application of this dose at vegetative and flowering stages increased chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) values, whereas application at the fruit maturation stage reduced the Fv/Fm values. This decline was positively correlated with fruit shape and negatively correlated with the pH and the content of soluble sugars, lycopene, total flavonoids, and nitrogen in fruits. Moreover, the levels of primary metabolites derived from glycolysis, such as inositol phosphate, lactic acid, and ascorbic acid, increased in response to treatment of plants with 1 mg mL⁻¹- chitosan. Thus, chitosan application affects various plant processes by influencing stomata aperture, cell division and expansion, fruit maturation, mineral assimilation, and defense responses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Preparation and Application of Chitosan, Chitin and Their Composites II)

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14 pages, 5890 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Chitosan on Loading and Releasing for Doxorubicin Loaded Porous Hydroxyapatite–Gelatin Composite Microspheres

by Meng-Ying Wu, Yu-Hsin Liang and Shiow-Kang Yen

Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4276; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14204276 - 12 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1663

Abstract

Porous hydroxyapatite–gelatin (Hap–Gel) composite microspheres derived by wet chemical methods were used as carriers of doxorubicin (DOX) coupled with chitosan (Chi) for treating cancers. Through X-ray diffraction, specific surface area porosimetry, chemisorption analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, the crystalline phase, composition, morphology, and pore distribution of HAp–Gel microspheres were all characterized. HAp nanosized crystals and Gel polymers form porous microspheres after blending and exhibit a specific surface area of 158.64 m²/g, pore sizes from 3 to 150 nm, and pore volumes of 0.4915 cm³/g. These characteristics are suitable for carriers of DOX. Furthermore, by the addition of chitosan during drug loading, its drug-entrapment efficiency increases from 70% to 99% and the release duration increases from a 100% burst within a day to only 45% over half a year since the pores in the composite microspheres provide a shielding effect throughout the degradation period of the chitosan. According to the MTT tests, cell viability of DOX–Chi/HAp–Gel is 57.64% on day 5, similar to the result treated with DOX only. It is concluded that under the protection of pores in the microspheres, the chitosan abundant of hydroxyls combining HAp–Gel and DOX by forming hydrogen bonds indeed enhances the entrapment efficiency, prolongs the releasing period and maintains DOX’s ability to perform medicine functions unaffected after loading. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Preparation and Application of Chitosan, Chitin and Their Composites II)

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13 pages, 1555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitosan Oligosaccharide Prevents Afatinib-Induced Barrier Disruption and Chloride Secretion through Modulation of AMPK, PI3K/AKT, and ERK Signaling in T84 Cells

by Tahir Mehmood, Rath Pichyangkura and Chatchai Muanprasat

Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4255; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14204255 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1354

Abstract

Diarrhea is an important adverse effect of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, especially afatinib. Novel antidiarrheal agents are needed to reduce epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor-associated diarrhea to improve the quality of life and treatment outcome in cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the anti-diarrheal activity of chitosan oligosaccharide against afatinib-induced barrier disruption and chloride secretion in human intestinal epithelial cells (T84 cells). Chitosan oligosaccharide (100 μg/mL) prevented afatinib-induced barrier disruption determined by changes in transepithelial electrical resistance and FITC-dextran flux in the T84 cell monolayers. In addition, chitosan oligosaccharide prevented afatinib-induced potentiation of cAMP-induced chloride secretion measured by short-circuit current analyses in the T84 cell monolayers. Chitosan oligosaccharide induced the activation of AMPK, a positive regulator of epithelial tight junction and a negative regulator of cAMP-induced chloride secretion. Moreover, chitosan oligosaccharide partially reversed afatinib-induced AKT inhibition without affecting afatinib-induced ERK inhibition via AMPK-independent mechanisms. Collectively, this study reveals that chitosan oligosaccharide prevents the afatinib-induced diarrheal activities in T84 cells via both AMPK-dependent and AMPK-independent mechanisms. Chitosan oligosaccharide represents a promising natural polymer-derived compound for further development of treatment for afatinib-associated diarrheas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Preparation and Application of Chitosan, Chitin and Their Composites II)

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Review

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24 pages, 960 KiB

Open AccessReview

Polymeric Nanoparticles for Inhaled Vaccines

by Nusaiba K. Al-Nemrawi, Ruba S. Darweesh, Lubna A. Al-shriem, Farah S. Al-Qawasmi, Sereen O. Emran, Areej S. Khafajah and Muna A. Abu-Dalo

Polymers 2022, 14(20), 4450; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14204450 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2350

Abstract

Many recent studies focus on the pulmonary delivery of vaccines as it is needle-free, safe, and effective. Inhaled vaccines enhance systemic and mucosal immunization but still faces many limitations that can be resolved using polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs). This review focuses on the use of properties of PNPs, specifically chitosan and PLGA to be used in the delivery of vaccines by inhalation. It also aims to highlight that PNPs have adjuvant properties by themselves that induce cellular and humeral immunogenicity. Further, different factors influence the behavior of PNP in vivo such as size, morphology, and charge are discussed. Finally, some of the primary challenges facing PNPs are reviewed including formulation instability, reproducibility, device-related factors, patient-related factors, and industrial-level scale-up. Herein, the most important variables of PNPs that shall be defined in any PNPs to be used for pulmonary delivery are defined. Further, this study focuses on the most popular polymers used for this purpose. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Preparation and Application of Chitosan, Chitin and Their Composites II)

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