Influence of glucosamine on oligochitosan solubility and antibacterial activity

Light scattering studies indicate that oligochitosan (short-chain chitosan) solutions contain aggregates at pH values below the critical pH of phase separation, while at or above this point the gel phase coexists with the aggregate solution. This work demonstrates for the first time that the presence of D-glucosamine in an oligochitosan solution shifts the critical pH to a higher value and improves the oligochitosan antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermis in neutral and slightly alkaline aqueous media. By comparing the results of light scattering studies and antimicrobial assays one can conclude that the antimicrobial activity of oligochitosan is dependent on its unimolecular form, not its supramolecular structures. The widening of the homogeneity region of an oligochitosan solution could lead to promising biomedical applications.