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Z-Chitosan: chitosan, rethought.

Chitosan and plant extracts, combined into an antimicrobial system for materials – in three stations, based on the patent specifications.

Illustrative image

Definition

What Z-Chitosan is.

Z-Chitosan is an inclusion complex of chitosan and at least one plant extract, formed in the presence of a catalyst (US 11,708,424). It is produced by multi-stage emulsion cross-linking and dried to a powder; as a masterbatch it goes into plastics, polymers and fabrics (US 12,071,490). The applications show which forms ZCP offers today.

  1. Chitosan

    The carrier, a cationic biopolymer derived from chitin

  2. Plant extracts

    Named in the patent, among others: thyme, oregano, cinnamon, clove

  3. Catalyst

    Links both components in the emulsion cross-linking

  4. Solution or microparticles

    As a powder for incorporation into the material

Model illustration Patent

Molecule Studio

A chitosan chain to rotate and examine.

Chitosan is a chain of D-glucosamine (with a free amino group) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Set DDA and pH and follow the chain’s charge.

Loading molecule …

Model illustration

Drag: rotate · Scroll: zoom · Tap an atom: details

Share of units with a free amino group · 6 / 8 units

Below pH 6.4 most amino groups are protonated (–NH3+).

Protonated amino groups
88.8 %
Charged units in the chain
71.0 % 5 / 8

View

α = 1 / (1 + 10(pH − 6.4)) · charged = DDA × α

What am I looking at?

Chitosan consists of β-(1→4)-linked units of D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The degree of deacetylation (DDA, typically 60–95 %) states how many units carry a free amino group. These amino groups have a pKa of about 6.3 to 6.5. In acidic conditions they take up a proton (–NH3+), so the chain becomes positively charged and soluble. At neutral pH only a small share is charged; plain chitosan is then poorly soluble and less active.

Protonated share and charged units (model calculation, pKa 6.4)
pHProtonated shareDDA 60 %DDA 80 %DDA 95 %
4.099.6 %59.8 %79.7 %94.6 %
5.096.2 %57.7 %76.9 %91.4 %
6.071.5 %42.9 %57.2 %67.9 %
6.450.0 %30.0 %40.0 %47.5 %
7.020.1 %12.0 %16.1 %19.1 %
8.02.5 %1.5 %2.0 %2.3 %

Idealised model calculation; the actual pKa depends on DDA and ionic strength, among other factors. · Literature: Rinaudo 2006; Kong et al. 2010

Cell envelope in section

What happens at the cell.

Bacteria and yeasts carry negatively charged components on their surface. Choose an organism and step through the literature-based model.

Cross-section of the cell envelope with attaching chitosan chains, model
Model illustration≈ 20 nm

Organism

Gram-negative: outer membrane, thin peptidoglycan, inner membrane

Literature · Rabea et al. 2003; Kong et al. 2010
What am I looking at?

The model shows the cell envelopes of four organisms: E. coli and P. aeruginosa as rods, S. aureus as cocci, C. albicans as a yeast. Gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane with lipopolysaccharides, Gram-positive bacteria a thick peptidoglycan layer with teichoic acids; both are negatively charged on the outside. The animation shows the literature-based model of chitosan’s action in four steps. It is a model illustration, not a measurement. The effect depends on organism, pH and material.

Incorporation

Four routes into the material.

Z-Chitosan goes into the polymer, onto the surface, onto the fibre or into the liquid. Patent US 12,071,490 describes the route via a masterbatch into plastics, polymers and fabrics; the applications show which other routes ZCP offers. Suitability for your material is assessed case by case.

Small heap of off-white masterbatch pellets in a glass dish on dark slate
Illustrative image

Masterbatch · in the polymer

Z-Chitosan powder is compounded into a carrier polymer and dosed in during injection moulding or extrusion.

Typical materials

  • PP
  • PE
  • PVC
  • PET
  • PS
  • ABS
  • PA
  • PC
Plastics & masterbatch

Evidence

What is evidenced – and where to read further.

Every visual carries a badge. Patents and testing have their own pages.

Sources4
  1. Rabea E. I., Badawy M. E.-T., Stevens C. V., Smagghe G., Steurbaut W. (2003): Chitosan as antimicrobial agent: applications and mode of action. Biomacromolecules 4(6):1457–1465.
  2. Kong M., Chen X. G., Xing K., Park H. J. (2010): Antimicrobial properties of chitosan and mode of action: a state of the art review. International Journal of Food Microbiology 144(1):51–63.
  3. Rinaudo M. (2006): Chitin and chitosan: Properties and applications. Progress in Polymer Science 31(7):603–632.
  4. US 11,708,424 B1 and US 12,071,490 B2 (Google Patents), see Patents.

Is Z-Chitosan right for your material?

Describe your material, process and goal to receive an initial, non-binding assessment.

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