Antimicrobial Properties of Chitosan and Chitosan Derivatives in the Treatment of Enteric Infections

Overview

Journal Molecules

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biology

Date 2021 Dec 10

PMID 34885715

Citations 85

Authors

Dazhong Yan

Yanzhen Li

Yinling Liu

Na Li

Xue Zhang

Chen Yan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Antibiotics played an important role in controlling the development of enteric infection. However, the emergence of antibiotic resistance and gut dysbiosis led to a growing interest in the use of natural antimicrobial agents as alternatives for therapy and disinfection. Chitosan is a nontoxic natural antimicrobial polymer and is approved by GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe by the United States Food and Drug Administration). Chitosan and chitosan derivatives can kill microbes by neutralizing negative charges on the microbial surface. Besides, chemical modifications give chitosan derivatives better water solubility and antimicrobial property. This review gives an overview of the preparation of chitosan, its derivatives, and the conjugates with other polymers and nanoparticles with better antimicrobial properties, explains the direct and indirect mechanisms of action of chitosan, and summarizes current treatment for enteric infections as well as the role of chitosan and chitosan derivatives in the antimicrobial agents in enteric infections. Finally, we suggested future directions for further research to improve the treatment of enteric infections and to develop more useful chitosan derivatives and conjugates.

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