Preparation of Succinyl-Chitin Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The N-acylation of partially deacetylated chitin nanofibers with succinic anhydride gave N-succinyl-chitin. The introduction of succinyl groups into chitin nanofibers followed by sonication of the aqueous dispersion of N-succinyl-chitin gives rise to a stable aqueous dispersion (with particle hydrodynamic radius of 350 nm and ζ-potential of –22 mV). The particle morphology simultaneously changes from rod-like with (100–500) × (6–15) nm size to spherical with 160–400 nm size, whereas the chitin crystal structure barely changes.