Chitosan Structure
Chitosan is derived from chitin, and structurally is a type of polysaccharide similar to cellulose, which is widely present in nature. Chitosan is a promising agent in many applications, including water cleaning, agriculture, the textile industry and the medical field.
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The Structure of Chitosan
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Chitosan is a biodegradable natural fiber that is elastic and chemically reactive. Chitosan is a polymer, a string of molecules that can be molded -- a sort of natural plastic. It is biodegradable, elastic, contracts at high temperature and reacts in an organic environment.
Organ Tissue Engineering
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Chitosan will be the next material for organ repair. Through a process called "scaffolding," chitosan is promising as organ transplant and repair material. Chitosan reacts with the environment, it is similar to the bone in density, it can be molded with precision through computer-commanded laser, and it can be made porous, to allow for blood vessel circulation.
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Chitosan Binds Spilled Oil
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Chitosan gathers oil particles on the water surface. Chitosan flocculates, that is, it sticks to particles floating in the water and aggregates in patches at the surface. This may help in oil spill disasters.
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- Photo Credit ocean image by Sergey Dyadechkin from Fotolia.com molecules circle image by Vladislav Gajic from Fotolia.com surgery image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com OIL image by brelsbil from Fotolia.com
