Changes in blood aggregation with differences in molecular weight and degree of deacetylation of chitosan

Because the molecular weight (Mw) and degree of deacetylation (DDA) of chitosan can vary depending on the purification method, the identification of appropriate chitosan structures is important for developing more effective hemostatic agents. In this study, the influence of varying Mw and DDA of chitosan on blood aggregation was characterized by 10 types of chitosan with different Mw and DDA, including oligomers. The highest aggregation of whole blood, washed erythrocytes and platelets in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) were observed in chitosan with Mw of 8.6 kDa or more and with DDA of 75 to 88%. However, chitosan with too high Mw (247 kDa) inhibited the aggregation of whole blood, washed erythrocytes and PRP at high chitosan concentration. At certain concentrations, chitosan with 75-85% DDA and 50-190 kDa and chitosan with 87.6% DDA and 247 kDa both aggregated proteins in PRP. Chitosan oligomer did not affect blood aggregation. The results suggested that the aggregation by chitosan depended on the interaction of positively charged chitosan with negatively charged erythrocytes, platelets and plasma protein. It seemed that a suitable balance of positive charge in chitosan and negative charge in hemocytes and some kinds of proteins was important. To develop a hemostatic with effective blood aggregation, the chitosan should not be limited to a single Mw and a single DDA but may be a mixed chitosan with wide range of Mw (8.6-247 kDa) and DDA of 75 to 88%.