Chitin

Chitin belongs to the biopolymer group and its fibrous structure is similar to cellulose.

Chemical name: (1,4)-N-acetyl-D-glucos-2-amine

Empirical formula: (C8H13NO5)n

CAS: 1398-61-4

The monomers are identified as N-Acetyl-Amnioglucose.  Chitin is a polysaccharide containing nitrogen in which monomers occur with the glycosidically linked components beta 1,4.  It is the same coupling as glucose with cellulose, however in chitin the hydroxyl group of the monomer is replaced with an acetyl amine group.  The resulting, stronger hydrogen bond between the bordering polymers makes chitin harder and more stabile than cellulose.

Occurrence in nature

in the exoskeleton of animals such as shrimp, crabs, krill, squid and insects or in cell walls of fungi, yeast and other microorganisms.

the amount of chitin in marine biomass alone is approx. 106-107 tons.

chitin_2

Structural formula Chitin

A distinction is made between alpha, beta and gamma chitin, which have different mechanical properties depending on the arrangement of the polymer chains.

Alpha: alternating antiparallel arrangement of polysaccharide chains (crustaceans)

Beta: parallel chain arrangement (squid)

Gamma: two parallel chains statistically alternating with an antiparallel chain (fungi)

Function of chitin in nature

supporting function (structural substance)

protection of soft parts (offers protection to inner organs)

prevention of loss of fluids

Solubility

insoluble in water, organic solvents, weak acids and lyes

soluble in concentrated formic acid and methane sulfonic acid,

strong acids split chitin into acetic acid and D-amino glucose (monomer of chitin), strong lyes split chitin into acetic acid and chitosan.

Biodegradability

through the enzymes chitinases and lysozyme to chitobioses and through the chitobiases to monosaccharides

Applications

Chitin can be processed further into different derivatives.  The two main derivatives are chitosan and amino glucose.

Chitin applications in cosmetics

as carboxymethyl chitin (moisturizers, changes flow properties), antistatic effect due to cationic properties   (hair products)

Chitin applications in medicine / pharmaceutics

wound and burn treatment

hemostatic for orthopedic treatment of broken bones

viscoelastic solutions for ophthamology and orthopedic surgery

abdominal adhesions treatment

as antibacterial and antifungal agents and for treatment of mucous membranes

in tumor therapies

in micro surgery, neurosurgery

for treatment of chronic wounds, ulcers and bleeding (chitin powder)

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