Chitosan

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Cat Number

PIE-0300

CAS Number

9012-76-4

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Product Detail Description Advanced Innovations Customer Q&A

CAS Number

9012-76-4

EINECS

618-480-0

Molecular Formula

C56H103N9O39

Molecular Weight

1526.5

Appearance

Yellow powder

Standard

USDMF

General Description

Chitosan is a natural biopolymer produced by deacetylation of chitin, which is present in the exoskeleton of crustaceans (such as shrimp and crabs) as well as the cell wall of fungi. It is a linear polysaccharide with randomly distributed β-(1→4)-linked D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. It is biocompatible, biodegradable, and has properties such as being cationic in charge, film-forming, and antimicrobial.

Mechanism of Action

For drug delivery applications, chitosan has useful mucoadhesive and permeation-enhancing properties. Because of its positive charge, chitosan is able to bind mucosal surfaces via interaction with negatively charged sialic acid residues present on mucus, which prolongs the "dwell time" of a drug formulation at the site of administration (nose, intestines, etc.). Chitosan also temporarily opens tight junctions between epithelial cells. This occurs via stimulation of a rearrangement in cytoskeletal proteins, such as F-actin and zonula occludens-1 protein. As a result, larger or hydrophilic drug molecules are able to traverse the cellular barrier by paracellular transport.

Application

Attributable to its broad chemical properties, chitosan has found many industrial applications ranging from biomedicine to wastewater treatment processes. Applications in medicine include the engineering of wound dressings that promote fast healing and prevent infection. It has also been used in drug delivery systems as a controlled-release carrier. In wastewater treatment processes, chitosan acts as a flocculant to remove heavy metals, dye colorants, and oils from industrial wastewater. It is also used commonly used as a food preservative and antimicrobial coating on perishables.

Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX) were co-entrapped with oleoyl-chitosan (OC) to form DOX-entrapped magnetic OC (DOX-MOC) nanoparticles via ionic gelation using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Assembled NPs were employed for magnetically controlled drug targeting of DOX to tumors. OC modified with folic acid (FA) was utilized to prepare FA-conjugated DOX-entrapped magnetic OC (FA-DOX-MOC) nanoparticles for active targeting applications toward folate receptor-overexpressing cancer cells. Using optimized parameters (OC: TPP mass ratio = 1:4, OC = 0.2%), spherical nanoparticles (~250 nm) were obtained with 87.9% Fe3O4 content, 53.1 emu/g saturation magnetization, 83.1% encapsulation efficiency, and 2.81% drug loading. Conjugation of FA onto nanoparticles did not significantly change their physicochemical properties, and both nanoparticles showed pH-sensitive release of DOX with a faster release rate at acidic endosomal pH conditions. Conjugation of FA showed a significant increase in cellular uptake of nanoparticles and nuclear localization of DOX. Overall, FA enhanced the cytotoxicity of DOX-MOC nanoparticles against U87 cancer cells. These results showed FA-DOX-MOC nanoparticles to be efficient nanocarriers for controlled drug delivery applications in cancer therapy.

Fig. 2 A schematic representation of the preparation process of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded folic acid (FA)-conjugated magnetic oleoyl-chitosan (OC) (DOX-FA-MOC) nanoparticles. (Dash B S, et al. 2025)

References

Dash B S, et al. Folic acid-conjugated magnetic oleoyl-chitosan nanoparticles for controlled release of doxorubicin in cancer therapy. Nanomaterials. 2025, 15(6): 415.

Does light exposure affect the quality of Chitosan during storage?

Yes, Chitosan is sensitive to UV light, so it must be stored in opaque, light-resistant containers at all times.

How can I track the real-time logistics status of my Chitosan shipment after dispatch?

Track Chitosan’s real-time logistics with the tracking number sent via email after Chitosan dispatch.

Can Chitosan be stored near volatile chemicals?

No, store Chitosan away from strong odors and volatile organic compounds to prevent cross-contamination or chemical absorption.

Who do I contact for technical questions about my Chitosan?

Our dedicated account managers are available to assist with any logistical or technical queries regarding your Chitosan batch.