Modified chitosan with different phenolic acids: Characterization, physicochemical properties, and biological...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biochemistry
• Food Science

Background:

• Chitosan, a biopolymer, has limited applications due to its inherent properties.
• Phenolic acids offer antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits.
• Developing functionalized chitosan materials is crucial for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel phenolic acid-chitosan copolymers.
• To evaluate the biological activities and physicochemical properties of these copolymers.
• To assess the efficacy of these copolymers in preserving sea bass quality during refrigerated storage.

Main Methods:

• Carbodiimide-mediated chemical crosslinking reaction for copolymer synthesis.
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for structural analysis.
• Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) for characterization.
• Assessment of biological activity and sea bass preservation efficacy.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of five phenolic acid-chitosan copolymers confirmed by FTIR, UV-Vis, and 1H NMR.
• The chitosan-gentisate acid copolymer exhibited the highest grafting degree (~295.93 mg/g).
• This copolymer demonstrated significantly enhanced biological activity (p < 0.05) compared to chitosan and other conjugates.
• Modified chitosan derivatives extended sea bass shelf-life by up to 9 days (relative to control).

Conclusions:

• Phenolic acid conjugation effectively enhances chitosan's properties.
• The chitosan-gentisate acid copolymer shows significant potential as a bioactive agent for food preservation.
• These functionalized chitosan copolymers offer a promising strategy for extending the shelf-life of aquatic products.