54
degree of deacetylation (DDA) of chitin ranges from 60 to 100% (Yuan et al. 2011).
Chitosan as a heteropolysaccharide also includes linear β-1,4-linked units which
often exists in the form of granules, sheets, or powders (Younes and Rinaudo 2015).
Chitin is the pre-constructed organic framework on which calcium carbonate
growth takes place. Chitin, so similar to cellulose in structure, also reacts in many
ways similar to cellulose, aside from being biodegradable and non-toxic. It is currently being used for medical applications such as drug encapsulation, fat absorber,
and wound dressing materials. The chitin/chitosan—calcium phosphate system has
the potential use as a virus filter given the adsorptive properties of hydroxyapatite
(Singh et al. 2012) which may allow the attachment of drugs for future treatment of
a serious viral disease.
4.5 Bioactive Carbohydrates from Microorganisms
4.5.1 Dextran
Dextran is a family of glucans produced by polymerization of the α-D-glucose portion of sucrose in a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme dextransucrase. It is a high
molecular-weight polysaccharide which is composed of α-1,6 linking glucose as the
Fig. 4.11 (a) Chitin. (b) Chitosan
T. A. Oyedepo and A. A. A. Kayode
degree of deacetylation (DDA) of chitin ranges from 60 to 100% (Yuan et al. 2011).
Chitosan as a heteropolysaccharide also includes linear β-1,4-linked units which
often exists in the form of granules, sheets, or powders (Younes and Rinaudo 2015).
Chitin is the pre-constructed organic framework on which calcium carbonate
growth takes place. Chitin, so similar to cellulose in structure, also reacts in many
ways similar to cellulose, aside from being biodegradable and non-toxic. It is currently being used for medical applications such as drug encapsulation, fat absorber,
and wound dressing materials. The chitin/chitosan—calcium phosphate system has
the potential use as a virus filter given the adsorptive properties of hydroxyapatite
(Singh et al. 2012) which may allow the attachment of drugs for future treatment of
a serious viral disease.
4.5 Bioactive Carbohydrates from Microorganisms
4.5.1 Dextran
Dextran is a family of glucans produced by polymerization of the α-D-glucose portion of sucrose in a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme dextransucrase. It is a high
molecular-weight polysaccharide which is composed of α-1,6 linking glucose as the
Fig. 4.11 (a) Chitin. (b) Chitosan
T. A. Oyedepo and A. A. A. Kayode