Enzymatic synthesis of chitosan derivatives and their potential applications

Abdulhadi Aljawish (1) , Isabelle Chevalot (2) , Jordane Jasniewski (1) , Joel Scher (1) , Lionel Muniglia (1)

1 LIBio - Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Biomolécules
2 LRGP - Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés

Chitosan (aminopolysaccharide) exhibiting excellent functional properties was found to be a good natural source in various applications. However, practical use of chitosan was generally limited due to its weak solubility in neutral pH, its poor workability and low antioxidant activity. For a breakthrough in utilization, the functionalization of chitosan will be a key point, allowing the introduction of desired properties and enlarging the field of its potential applications. Enzymatic or chemical functionalizations of chitosan were carried out based on its reactive groups (-NH2 and -OH). Due to growing safety and environmental concerns, enzymatic methods were constantly investigated as an attractive alternative to toxic and non-specific chemical approaches. This review discusses the mechanisms of enzymatic functionalization and compares the applied systems, enzymes and materials for enzymatic functionalization of chitosan. A focus is also paid concerning the current applications of enzymatically modified chitosan derivatives in the field of biomedical, pharmaceutical, food, environmental and material applications.

Domaines: Chimie

Abdulhadi Aljawish, Isabelle Chevalot, Jordane Jasniewski, Joel Scher, Lionel Muniglia. Enzymatic synthesis of chitosan derivatives and their potential applications. Journal of Molecular Catalysis B: Enzymatic, 2015, 112, pp.25-39. ⟨10.1016/j.molcatb.2014.10.014⟩. ⟨hal-01267381⟩