Daniel Alonzo Durante / Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Jose Manuel Silvestre / Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Isabel Rodriguez-Veiga / Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Inmaculada Aranaz / Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Andrés R. Alcántara / Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Topic: Biocatalysis for the Synthesis of Biomaterials
Chitosan, a versatile biopolymer derived from chitin found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans like shrimp, crab, and lobster, has recently garnered significant interest for its diverse potential applications in agriculture, medicine, and the food industry. Moreover, chitosan boasts antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, positioning it as a natural alternative to synthetic preservatives and antibiotics. These attributes are closely linked to the specific structure of chitosans, primarily determined by their chain length (MW) and acetylation degree (AD).
The practical use of chitosanases for producing chitooligosaccharides with precise MWs and ADs, a common laboratory procedure, faces a major obstacle due to the prohibitively high cost of these glycosidases, rendering the intensified process economically unfeasible. In this communication, we will present our findings from experiments involving various commercial hydrolases applied to partially hydrolyze chitosan.
