Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Seafood Processing By-Products pp 371–387Cite as

Chitosan Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Chitosan, a polysaccharide obtained by partial deacetylation of chitin from the shells of crustaceans, is one of the most often studied natural biopolymers, having the potential for numerous industrial applications. The development of micro- and nanoparticles of chitosan and its derivatives paved a path for applying these biomolecules in a more effective and economical manner, and expanding their applications in more diverse fields than those expected. Similar to all the other types of nanoparticles developed from different materials, chitosan nanoparticles also possess their own physical, chemical, and morphological characteristics that finally determine their applications. The methods of preparation of chitosan nanoparticles are significantly responsible for their bioactivities and behavioral characteristics in different systems and applications. The main methods of preparation of chitosan nanoparticles include emulsion cross-linking, emulsion-droplet coalescence, coacervation/precipitation, ionotropic gelation, reverse micelles, template polymerization, and molecular self-assembly. All these methods have their own advantages as well as drawbacks, in relation to the properties of the nanoparticles. However, careful preparation of chitosan nanoparticles could provide a higher affinity for negatively charged biological membranes and site-specific targeting in vivo, enabling their application as encapsulating materials of drugs, enzymes, and DNA, used in controlled release systems and as coatings of wound dressings to accelerate healing. Chitosan nanoparticles-based films are used in the food industry to control microorganisms in food and to enhance shelf life while strengthening the mechanical properties and stability of the food-packing materials. Although the chitosan nanoparticles appear to be safe in some of their applications, knowledge on the risks imposed in these food and pharmaceutical applications needs to be strengthened further.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agnihotri SA, Mallikarjuna NN, Aminabhavi TM (2004) Recent advances on chitosan-based micro- and nanoparticles in drug delivery. J Control Release 100:5–28

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aider M (2009) Chitosan application for active bio-based films production and potential in the food industry: review. http://www.ebah.com.br/content/ABAAAA4rUAD/chitosan-application-for-active-bio-based-films-production-and-potentialin-the-food-industry-review. Accessed Aug 2012

  • Anonymous (2010) Chitosan (deacetylated chitin biopolymer). Natural Standard professional monograph. http://www.livingnaturally.com/ns/DisplayMonograph.asp?storeID=E32FA6C399AB4C99897032581851D45D&DocID=bottomline-chitosan. Accessed July 2012

  • Baer DR (2010) Surface characterization of nanoparticles: challenges and opportunities. http://www.greennano.org/webfm_send/49. Accessed Aug 2012

  • Bansal V, Sharma PK, Sharma N, Pal OP, Malviya R (2011) Applications of chitosan and chitosan derivatives in drug delivery. Adv Biol Res 5:28–37

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berthod A, Kreuter J (1996) Chitosan microspheres-improved acid stability and change in physicochemical properties by cross-linking. Proc Int Symp Control Release Bioact Mater 23:369–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodmeier R, Oh K-H, Pramar Y (1989) Preparation and evaluation of drug-containing chitosan beads. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 15:1475–1494

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bodnar M, Hartmann JF, Borbely J (2005) Preparation and characterization of chitosan-based nanoparticles. Biomacromolecules 6:2521–2527

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowman K, Leong KW (2006) Chitosan nanoparticles for oral drug and gene delivery. Int J Nanomedicine 1:117–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brück MW, Slater JW, Carney BF (2010) Chitin and chitosan from marine organisms. In: Kim S-K (ed) Chitin, chitosan, oligosaccharides and their derivatives: biological activities and applications. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, pp 11–19

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chung Y-C, Su Y-P, Chen C-C, Jia G, Wang H-I, Wu JCG, Lin J-J (2004) Relationship between antibacterial activity of chitosan and surface characteristics of cell wall. Acta Pharmacol Sin 25:932–936

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colonna C, Conti B, Perugini P, Pavanetto F, Modena T, Dorati R, Genta I (2007) Chitosan glutamate nanoparticles for protein delivery: development and effect on prolidase stability. J Microencapsul 24:553–564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cong Y, Pang CF, Dai L, Banta GT, Selck H, Forbes VE (2011) Importance of characterizing nanoparticles before conducting toxicity tests. Integr Environ Assess Manag 7:502–503

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corradini E, De Moura MR, Mattoso LHC (2010) A preliminary study of the incorporation of NPK fertilizer into chitosan nanoparticles. Express Polym Lett 4:509–515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crestini C, Kovac B, Giovannozzi-Sermanni G (1996) Production and isolation of chitosan by submerged and solid-state fermentation from Lentinus edodes. Biotechnol Bioeng 50:207–210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Moura MR, Aouada FA, Avena-Bustillos RJ, McHugh TH, Krochta JM, Mattoso LHC (2009) Improved barrier and mechanical properties of novel hydroxypropyl methylcellulose edible films with chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles. J Food Eng 92:448–453

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Moura MR, Lorevice MV, Mattoso LHC, Zucolotto V (2011) Highly stable, edible cellulose films incorporating chitosan nanoparticles. J Food Sci 76:N25–N29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deği̇rmenci̇oğlu N, İrki̇n R, Deği̇rmenci̇oğlu A, Kabasakal A (2009) Chitosan and its application in food industry. Akademik Gida 7:35–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutta PK, Dutta J, Tripathi VS (2004) Chitin and chitosan: chemistry, properties and applications. J Sci Ind Res 63:20–31

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gill R (2003) Nano- and micro-encapsulation of food additives and agrochemicals. USDA Grant Propos 2003–00331

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves C, Pereira P, Gama M (2010) Self-assembled hydrogel nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. Materials 3:1420–1460

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gooday GW (1990) The ecology of chitin degradation. In: Marschall KC (ed) Advances in microbial ecology. Plenum Press, New York, pp 387–440

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes M, Carney B, Slater J, Brück W (2008) Mining marine shellfish wastes for bioactive molecules: chitin and chitosan – Part A: extraction methods. Biotechnol J 3:871–877

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hettiarachchi, MA, Wickramarachchi PASR (2012) Activity of silver nano chitosan composites against the banana pathogen Colletotrichum musae. Abstracts. In: International conference on chemical sciences, Colombo, p 12

    Google Scholar 

  • Jang K-I, Lee HG (2008) Stability of chitosan nanoparticles for L-ascorbic acid during heat treatment in aqueous solution. J Agric Food Chem 56:1936–1941

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kafshgari MH, Khorram M, Khodadoost M, Khavari S (2011) Reinforcement of chitosan nanoparticles obtained by an ionic cross-linking process. Iran Polym J 20:445–456

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaloti M, Bohidar HB (2010) Kinetics of coacervation transition versus nanoparticle formation in chitosan–sodium tripolyphosphate solutions. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 81:165–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knezevic-Jugovic Z, Petronijevic Z, Smelcerovic A (2010) Chitin and chitosan from microorganisms. In: Kim S-K (ed) Chitin, chitosan, oligosaccharides and their derivatives: biological activities and applications. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, pp 25–34

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Keong LC, Halim AS (2009) In vitro models in biocompatibility assessment for biomedical-grade chitosan derivatives in wound management. Int J Mol Sci 10:1300–1313

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kunjachan S, Jose S, Lammers T (2010) Understanding the mechanism of ionic gelation for synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles using qualitative techniques. Asian J Pharm 4:148–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuzma J, Romanchek J, Kokotovich A (2008) Upstream oversight assessment for agrifood nanotechnology: a case studies approach. https://www2.hhh.umn.edu/publications/6269/document.pdf. Accessed Aug 2012

  • Lee H-Y, Jeong Y-L, Choi K-C (2011) Hair dye-incorporated poly-γ-glutamic acid/glycol chitosan nanoparticles based on ion-complex formation. Int J Nanomedicine 6:2879–2888

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leonida MD, Banjade S, Vo T, Anderle G, Haas GJ, Philips N (2011) Nanocomposite materials with antimicrobial activity based on chitosan. Int J Nano Biomater 3:316–334

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lim CK, Yaacob NS, Ismail Z, Halim AS (2010) In vitro biocompatibility of chitosan porous skin regenerating templates (PSRTs) using primary human skin keratinocytes. Toxicol In Vitro 24:721–727

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loh JW, Schneider J, Carter M, Saunders M, Lim LY (2010) Spinning disc processing technology: potential for large-scale manufacture of chitosan nanoparticles. J Pharm Sci 99:4326–4336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • López-León T, Carvalho ELS, Seijo B, Ortega-Vinuesa JL, Bastos-González D (2005) Physicochemical characterization of chitosan nanoparticles: electrokinetic and stability behavior. J Colloid Interface Sci 283:344–351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maynard AD (2006) Nanotechnology: a research strategy for addressing risk, vol 3, PEN. Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishimura K, Nishimura SI, Seo H, Nishi N, Tokura S, Azuma I (1986) Macrophage activation with multi-porous beads prepared from partially deacetylated chitin. J Biomed Mater Res 20:1359–1372

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nwe N, Stevens WF (2008) Production of chitin and chitosan and their applications in the medical and biological sector. In: Tamura H (ed) Recent research in biomedical aspects of chitin and chitosan. Research Signpost, Kerala, pp 161–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Nwe N, Furuike T, Tamura H (2010) Chitin and chitosan from terrestrial organisms. In: Kim S-K (ed) Chitin, chitosan, oligosaccharides and their derivatives: biological activities and applications. Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, pp 3–10

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Oberdörster G, Oberdörster E, Oberdörster J (2005) Nanotoxicology: an emerging discipline evolving from studies of ultrafine particles. Environ Health Perspect 113:823–839

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olivier J-C (2005) Drug transport to brain with targeted nanoparticles. NeuroRx 2:108–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papadimitriou S, Bikiaris D, Avgoustakis K, Karavas E, Georgarakis M (2008) Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with dorzolamide and pramipexole. Carbohydr Polym 73:44–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peter MG, Kegel G, Keller R (1986) Structural studies on sclerotized insect cuticle. In: Muzzarelli RAA, Jeuniaux C, Gooday GW (eds) Chitin in nature and technology. Plenum Press, New York, pp 21–28

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Pileni MP (2006) Reverse micelles used as templates: a new understanding in nanocrystal growth. J Exp Nanosci 1:13–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qi LF, Xu ZR, Jiang X, Hu CH, Zou XF (2004) Preparation and antibacterial activity of chitosan nanoparticles. Carbohydr Res 339:2693–2700

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qi L-F, Xu Z-R, Li Y, Jiang X, Han X-Y (2005) In vitro effects of chitosan nanoparticles on proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cell line MGC803 cells. World J Gastroenterol 11:5136–5141

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rayment P, Butler MF (2008) Investigation of ionically crosslinked chitosan and chitosan–bovine serum albumin beads for novel gastrointestinal functionality. J Appl Polym Sci 108:2876–2885

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritthidej GC, Pichayakorn W, Kusonwiriyawong N, Lipipun V (2007) Preparation of chitosan nanoparticles for protein delivery by w/o/w emulsion solvent evaporation and simple ionotropic gelation techniques. Solid State Phenom 121:751–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sato ACK, Quintas MAC, Vicente AA, Cunha RL (2012) Food grade nanoparticles obtained from natural source ingredients. http://www.icef11.org/content/papers/fms/FMS1083.pdf. Accessed Aug 2012

  • Shi L-E, Fang X-J, Xing L-Y, Chen M, Zhu D-S, Guo X-F, Zhao L-M, Tang Z-X (2011) Chitosan nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers for biomedical engineering. J Chem Soc Pak 33:929–934

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shu XZ, Zhu KJ (2001) Chitosan/gelatin microspheres prepared by modified emulsification and ionotropic gelation. J Microencapsul 18:237–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teng WL, Khor E, Tan TK, Lim LY, Tan SC (2001) Concurrent production of chitin from shrimp shells and fungi. Carbohydr Res 332:305–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokumitsu H, Ichikawa H, Fukumori Y (1999) Chitosan–gadopentetic acid complex nanoparticles for gadolinium neutron-capture therapy of cancer: preparation by novel emulsion-droplet coalescence technique and characterization. Pharm Res 16:1830–1835

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokura S, Tamura H (2007) Chitin and chitosan. In: Kamerling H, Boons G, Lee YC, Suzuki A, Taniguchi N, Voragen AGJ (eds) Comprehensive glycoscience. Elsevier, Boston, pp 449–475

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • USDA (2011) Developing green nanotechnology for eliminating foodborne pathogens. http://fsrio.nal.usda.gov/nal_web/fsrio/printresults.php?ID=6762. Accessed Aug 2012

  • VandeVord PJ, Matthew HWT, DeSilva SP, Mayton L, Wu B, Wooley PH (2001) Evaluation of the biocompatibility of a chitosan scaffold in mice. http://www.eng.wayne.edu/user_files/372/file/Quick_Upload/vandevord%20et%20al%20evaluation%20of%20biocompatibility.pdf. Accessed Jul 2012

  • Vasconez MB, Flores SK, Campos CA, Alvarado J, Gershenson LN (2009) United States Patent 5,919,574

    Google Scholar 

  • Vila A, Sánchez A, Tobıo M, Calvo P, Alonso MJ (2002) Design of biodegradable particles for protein delivery. J Control Release 78:15–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Zhang B (2012) Self-assembled nanostructures. In: Padua GW, Wang Q (eds) Nanotechnology research methods for foods and bioproducts. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Du Y, Liu H (2004) Preparation, characterization and antimicrobial activity of chitosan–Zn complex. Carbohydr Polym 56:21–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Yuan B, Lu YB, Cheng RS (2009) Preparation of magnetic chitosan microspheres and its applications in wastewater treatment. Sci Chin Ser B Chem 52:249–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Zambaux MF, Bonneaux F, Gref R, Dellacherie E, Vigneron C (1999) Preparation and characterization of protein C-loaded PLA nanoparticles. J Control Release 60:179–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao L-M, Shi L-E, Zhang Z-L, Chen J-M, Shi D-D, Yang J, Tang Z-X (2011) Preparation and application of chitosan nanoparticles and nanofibers. Braz J Chem Eng 28:353–362

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, KY, 20400, Sri Lanka

    U. M. S. P. Perera & Niranjan Rajapakse

Authors
  1. U. M. S. P. Perera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Niranjan Rajapakse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to U. M. S. P. Perera .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Specialized Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Department of Marine-bio Convergence Science, Marine Bioprocess Research Center, Pukyong National University, Nam-GU, Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

    Se-Kwon Kim

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Perera, U.M.S.P., Rajapakse, N. (2014). Chitosan Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications. In: Kim, SK. (eds) Seafood Processing By-Products. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9590-1_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation