Chitosan:

Cationic polysaccharide obtained by deacetylation of chitin which is the major constituent of Exoskeleton of crustaceans the

immense advantages as an edible packaging material due to its good film-forming property

 It is composed of glucosamine and N-acetyl

glucosamine linked with a -1-4 glycosidic

linkage.

 Chitosan is a polymer which

exhibits a broad spectrum of antimicrobial

activity by binding to the negatively charged bacterial cell wall followed by attachment to the DNA, inhibiting its replication.
Its Gas and Aroma barrier properties at dry conditions,

which makes it a suitable material for designing food coatings and packaging structures.

Chitosan is considered one of the most valuable polymer for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to its

Biodegradability, Biocompatability, Antimicrobial, Non- toxicity,

Typical chitosan based forms:

Nanoparticles , Microspheres, Hydrogels,

Anti tumour properties.

Films
Fibers