Rangrong Yoksan

Preparation, characterization and in vitro release study of carvacrol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles

The fabrication of carvacrol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles was achieved by a two-step method, i.e., oil-in-water emulsion and ionic gelation of chitosan with pentasodium tripolyphosphate. The obtained particles possessed encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC) in the ranges of 14-31% and 3-21%, respectively, when the initial carvacrol content was 0.25-1.25 g/g of chitosan. The individual particles exhibited a spherical shape with an average diameter of 40-80 nm, and a positively charged surface with a zeta potential value of 25-29 mV. The increment of initial carvacrol content caused a reduction of surface charge. Carvacrol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli with an MIC of 0.257 mg/mL. The release of carvacrol from chitosan nanoparticles reached plateau level on day 30, with release amounts of 53% in acetate buffer solution with pH of 3, and 23% and 33% in phosphate buffer solutions with pH of 7 and 11, respectively. The release mechanism followed a Fickian behavior. The release rate was superior in an acidic medium to either alkaline or neutral media, respectively.

Encapsulation of ascorbyl palmitate in chitosan nanoparticles by oil-in-water emulsion and ionic gelation processes

The encapsulation of ascorbyl palmitate (AP) in chitosan particles was carried out by droplet formation via an oil-in-water emulsion, followed by droplet solidification via ionic gelation using sodium triphosphate pentabasic (TPP) as a cross-linking agent. The success of AP encapsulation was confirmed by FT-IR, UV-vis spectrophotometry, TGA, and XRD techniques. The obtained AP-loaded chitosan particles were spherical in shape with an average diameter of 30-100nm as observed by SEM and TEM. Loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of AP in the nanoparticles were about 8-20% and 39-77%, respectively, when the initial AP concentration was in the range of 25-150% (w/w) of chitosan. Augmentation of the initial AP concentration led to an increase of LC and a reduction of EE. The amount of AP released from the nanoparticles in ethanol and tris buffer (pH approximately 8.0) increased with increasing LC and decreasing TPP concentration.

Eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles: I. Thermal stability improvement of eugenol through encapsulation.

The objective of the present work was to improve the thermal stability of eugenol by encapsulating into chitosan nanoparticles via an emulsion-ionic gelation crosslinking method. The influences of the initial eugenol content and tripolyphosphate (TPP) concentration on the loading capacity (LC), encapsulation efficiency (EE), morphology and surface charge of the eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were also investigated. LC and EE tended to increase with increasing initial eugenol content and decreasing TPP concentration. Particles with LC of 12% and EE of 20% exhibited a spherical shape with an average size of less than 100 nm. Thermal stability of the encapsulated eugenol was verified through its extrusion at 155°C with a model plastic, i.e. thermoplastic flour (TPF). TPF containing encapsulated eugenol showed 8-fold higher remaining eugenol content and 2.7-fold greater radical scavenging activity than that containing naked eugenol. The results suggest the possible use of eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles as antioxidants in bioactive plastics for food packaging.

Preparation, characterization and antioxidant property of water-soluble ferulic acid grafted chitosan

The objective of the present work was to improve the antioxidant activity and water solubility of chitosan by grafting with ferulic acid through a carbodiimide-mediated coupling reaction. UV-vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, (1)H NMR and ninhydrin assay confirmed the grafting of ferulic acid onto chitosan at the C-2 position. Ferulic acid grafted chitosan - prepared using a mole ratio of chitosan to ferulic acid of 1:1, reaction temperature of 60°C, and reaction time of 3h - possessed the highest ferulic acid substitution degree, i.e. 0.37. Although ferulic acid grafted chitosan showed reduced crystallinity (∼10%) and decreased decomposition temperature (∼55°C) as compared to chitosan, it exhibited greater radical scavenging activity (∼55%) and was soluble in water (up to 1.3mg/mL). The improved antioxidant property and water solubility of this chitosan derivative could open a wide range of applications, particularly its use as an antioxidant in food, food packaging, biomedical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.

Development of thermoplastic starch blown film by incorporating plasticized chitosan

The objective of the present work was to improve blown film extrusion processability and properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS) film by incorporating plasticized chitosan, with a content of 0.37-1.45%. The effects of chitosan on extrusion processability and melt flow ability of TPS, as well as that on appearance, optical properties, thermal properties, viscoelastic properties and tensile properties of the films were investigated. The possible interactions between chitosan and starch molecules were evaluated by FTIR and XRD techniques. Chitosan and starch molecules could interact via hydrogen bonds, as confirmed from the blue shift of OH bands and the reduction of V-type crystal formation. Although the incorporation of chitosan caused decreased extensibility and melt flow ability, as well as increased yellowness and opacity, the films possessed better extrusion processability, increased tensile strength, rigidity, thermal stability and UV absorption, as well as reduced water absorption and surface stickiness. The obtained TPS/chitosan-based films offer real potential application in the food industry, e.g. as edible films.

Eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles: II. Application in bio-based plastics for active packaging

The aim of the present research was to study the possibility of using eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles as antioxidants for active bio-based packaging material. Eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were incorporated into thermoplastic flour (TPF) - a model bio-based plastic - through an extrusion process at temperatures above 150°C. The influences of eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on crystallinity, morphology, thermal properties, radical scavenging activity, reducing power, tensile properties and barrier properties of TPF were investigated. Although the incorporation of 3% (w/w) of eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles significantly reduced the extensibility and the oxygen barrier property of TPF, it provided antioxidant activity and improved the water vapor barrier property. In addition, TPF containing eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles exhibited superior radical scavenging activity and stronger reducing power compared with TPF containing naked eugenol. The results suggest the applicability of TPF containing eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles as an antioxidant active packaging material.

Optimal γ-Ray Dose and Irradiation Conditions for Producing Low-Molecular-Weight Chitosan that Retains its Chemical Structure

Abstract Yoksan, R., Akashi, M., Miyata, M. and Chirachanchai, S. Optimal γ-Ray Dose and Irradiation Conditions for Producing Low-Molecular-Weight Chitosan that Retains its Chemical Structure. Radiat. Res. 161, 471–480 (2004). This study focuses on the optimal conditions for γ irradiation to reduce the molecular weight of chitosan but still retain its chemical structure. Chitosan was irradiated under various conditions, i.e. flake solid state (condition 1), flake dispersed in water (condition 2), flake dispersed in 0.05, 0.1, 1 and 2% aqueous K2S2O8 solution (conditions 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, respectively), flake dispersed in 0.5, 1 and 2% aqueous H2O2 solution (conditions 4a, 4b and 4c, respectively), and chitosan acetic acid solution (condition 5). Comparative studies were done using three types of chitosans with molecular weights of the order of 105 Da with degrees of deacetylation of 0.80, 0.85 and 0.90%. For all conditions, after irradiation, there were two regions of molecular weight reduction. A severe degradation occurred in the first region with decreases in the molecular weight of 80% for radiation doses up to 50 kGy for conditions 1, 2 and 3 (3a–3c) and 20 kGy for condition 4. In the second region, a slow degradation occurred, which resembled a plateau stage. The results for conditions 3d and 5 were the most dramatic, since the primary structure of chitosan was changed after the irradiation. The degradation of chitosan by γ rays was found to be most effective for the amorphous structure. The retention of the structure of chitosan after γ irradiation makes it possible to produce a low-molecular-weight chitosan that retains its functionality, as demonstrated by its activity in the coupling reaction with N,N′-carbonyldiimidazole.

Incorporation methods for cholic acid chitosan-g-mPEG self-assembly micellar system containing camptothecin

A water-insoluble anticancer agent, camptothecin (CPT) was incorporated to a polymeric micelle carrier system preparing from cholic acid chitosan-grafted poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether (CS-mPEG-CA). CS-mPEG-CA formed a core-shell micellar structure with a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 7.08 microg/ml. Incorporation efficiency was investigated by varying physical incorporation method and initial drug loading. Among three incorporation methods (dialysis, emulsion and evaporation methods), an emulsion method showed the highest CPT incorporation efficiency. Increasing the initial CPT loading from 5 to 40%, the incorporation efficiency decreased. In all examined CPT-loaded CS-mPEG-CA micelles, 5% initial drug loading showed the highest drug incorporation efficiency. Release of CPT from the micelles was sustained when increasing the initial CPT loading. This indicates the importance of incorporation method and the initial drug loading to obtain the optimum particle size with high drug loading and sustained drug release. When compared to the unprotected CPT, CPT-loaded CS-mPEG-CA micelles were able to prevent the hydrolysis of the lactone group of the drug. This novel CS-mPEG-CA polymer presents considerable potential interest in the further development of CPT carrier.

Ferulic acid-coupled chitosan: thermal stability and utilization as an antioxidant for biodegradable active packaging film.

The aim of the present research was to study the thermal stability of ferulic acid after coupling onto chitosan, and the possibility of using ferulic acid-coupled chitosan (FA-CTS) as an antioxidant for biodegradable active packaging film. FA-CTS was incorporated into biodegradable film via a two-step process, i.e. compounding extrusion at temperatures up to 150°C followed by blown film extrusion at temperatures up to 175°C. Although incorporation of FA-CTS with a content of 0.02-0.16% (w/w) caused decreased water vapor barrier property and reduced extensibility, the biodegradable films possessed improved oxygen barrier property and antioxidant activity. Radical scavenging activity and reducing power of film containing FA-CTS were higher than those of film containing naked ferulic acid, by about 254% and 94%, respectively. Tensile strength and rigidity of the films were not significantly affected by the addition of FA-CTS with a content of 0.02-0.08% (w/w). The above results suggested that FA-CTS could potentially be used as an antioxidant for active packaging film.

Water-based oligochitosan and nanowhisker chitosan as potential food preservatives for shelf-life extension of minced pork.

Water-based chitosans in the forms of oligochitosan (OligoCS) and nanowhisker chitosan (CSWK) are proposed as a novel food preservative based on a minced pork model study. The high surface area with a positive charge over the neutral pH range (pH 5-8) of OligoCS and CSWK lead to an inhibition against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative microbes (Salmonella enteritidis and Escherichia coli O157:H7). In the minced pork model, OligoCS effectively performs a food preservative for shelf-life extension as clarified from the retardation of microbial growth, biogenic amine formation and lipid oxidation during the storage. OligoCS maintains almost all myosin heavy chain protein degradation as observed in the electrophoresis. The present work points out that water-based chitosan with its unique morphology not only significantly inhibits antimicrobial activity but also maintains the meat quality with an extension of shelf-life, and thus has the potential to be used as a food preservative.