Antimicrobial Chitosan and Chitosan Derivatives: A\nReview of the Structure–Activity Relationship

Abstract

This review gives\nan updated overview of the current state-of-the-art\nfor antimicrobial chitosan and chitosan derivatives and the effects\nof structural modifications on activity and toxicity. The various\nsynthetic routes introduced for chemical modification of chitosan\nare discussed, and the most common functional groups are highlighted.\nDifferent analytical techniques used for structural characterization\nof the synthesized chitosan derivatives are discussed and critically\nevaluated. For the purpose of this review, the antimicrobial chitosan\nderivatives have been classified on the basis of the type of functional\ngroup conjugated to the polymer backbone. In each case, the influence\nof the degree of substitution on the biological properties has been\nexamined. Finally, we have summarized the collective information and\nsuggested future directions for further research to improve our understanding\nof the bioactivity and to develop more useful chitosan conjugates.