Adv Polym Sci (2013) 254: 87–134
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_196
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 15 March 2013
Engineering of Polysaccharides
via Nanotechnology
Joydeep Dutta
Abstract The exploitation of nanotechnology to engineer polysaccharides is
undoubtedly very innovative in the context of nanobiopolymers. The polysaccharides
are naturally occurring biopolymers and can potentially be used for diverse
applications. Interest in the study of nanotechnology to produce nanoscaled
polysaccharides is gradually increasing. Nanotechnology not only changes the
structures of polysaccharides but also changes the functionality of the materials.
Many properties of polysaccharides are perhaps still undiscovered. The use of
nanotechnology to engineer polysaccharides may open up a new horizon that can
noticeably change every aspect of human life. Chitosan is an important polysaccharide and is found in the exoskeleton of crab, shrimp, prawn, lobster, squid pen, etc.
Despite its abundant availability in nature, it has not yet been completely cherished
by the scientific community. The properties of chitosan vary from source to source,
which could enable the efficient use of chitosan for a specific application. This
chapter deals with various sources of chitosan and discusses its physical, chemical,
and biological properties; synthesis of chitosan-based nanoparticles, nanospheres,
and nanogels; characterization; and biomedical applications.
Keywords Chitosan Á Engineering Á Nanotechnology Á Polysaccharide
Contents
1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
2
Sources of Chitin and Chitosan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
3
Isolation of Chitin and Chitosan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
4
Characterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
5
Structure of Chitin and Chitosan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
J. Dutta (*)
Department of Applied Sciences & Humanities, Institute of Engineering & Technology,
ITM University, Uparwara, Raipur, Chattrisgarh 493661, India
e-mail: dutta_joy@yahoo.co.in
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_196
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 15 March 2013
Engineering of Polysaccharides
via Nanotechnology
Joydeep Dutta
Abstract The exploitation of nanotechnology to engineer polysaccharides is
undoubtedly very innovative in the context of nanobiopolymers. The polysaccharides
are naturally occurring biopolymers and can potentially be used for diverse
applications. Interest in the study of nanotechnology to produce nanoscaled
polysaccharides is gradually increasing. Nanotechnology not only changes the
structures of polysaccharides but also changes the functionality of the materials.
Many properties of polysaccharides are perhaps still undiscovered. The use of
nanotechnology to engineer polysaccharides may open up a new horizon that can
noticeably change every aspect of human life. Chitosan is an important polysaccharide and is found in the exoskeleton of crab, shrimp, prawn, lobster, squid pen, etc.
Despite its abundant availability in nature, it has not yet been completely cherished
by the scientific community. The properties of chitosan vary from source to source,
which could enable the efficient use of chitosan for a specific application. This
chapter deals with various sources of chitosan and discusses its physical, chemical,
and biological properties; synthesis of chitosan-based nanoparticles, nanospheres,
and nanogels; characterization; and biomedical applications.
Keywords Chitosan Á Engineering Á Nanotechnology Á Polysaccharide
Contents
1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
2
Sources of Chitin and Chitosan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
3
Isolation of Chitin and Chitosan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
4
Characterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
5
Structure of Chitin and Chitosan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
J. Dutta (*)
Department of Applied Sciences & Humanities, Institute of Engineering & Technology,
ITM University, Uparwara, Raipur, Chattrisgarh 493661, India
e-mail: dutta_joy@yahoo.co.in