Chitosan (Deacetylated chitin) (≥95% deacetylated,viscosity 100-200 mPa.s) is a polysaccharide obtained by deacetylating chitin, and exhibits antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and fungi^[1][2].

Low-molecular-weight chitosan can penetrate bacterial cell walls, bind with DNA and inhibit DNA transcription and mRNA synthesis, while high-molecular-weight Chitosan can bind to the negatively charged components on the bacterial cell wall. It forms an impermeable layer around the cell, changes cell permeability and blocks transport into the cell. Chitosan also can be used in water treatment, wound-healing materials, pharmaceutical excipient or drug carrier, obesity research and as a scaffold for tissue engineering^[1].

MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

In chemical-induced colonic precancerous lesions in ICR mice, in the 2 weeks preventive experiments, mice fed with a diet containing high molecular weight Chitosan (HMWC) had significant fewer aberrant crypt foci formation than those fed with control diet. As the treatment extended to 6 weeks, both low molecular weight Chitosan (LMWC)- and HMWC-fed mice contained less aberrant crypt foci when compared to control^[2].

MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.

9012-76-4

Solid

Off-white to light yellow

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Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.

• [1]. Randy Chi Fai Cheung, et al. Chitosan: An Update on Potential Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications. Mar Drugs. 2015 Aug 14;13(8):5156-86.  [Content Brief]

  [2]. Shyr-Yi Lin, et al. Chitosan prevents the development of AOM-induced aberrant crypt foci in mice and suppressed the proliferation of AGS cells by inhibiting DNA synthesis. J Cell Biochem. 2007 Apr 15;100(6):1573-80.  [Content Brief]