ABSTRACT
Chitin is the second most abundant natural polymer in the world after cellulose. Upon deacetylation, it yields the novel biomaterial chitosan, which upon further hydrolysis yields an oligosaccharide of extremely low molecular weight. Chitosan possesses a wide range of useful properties. Specically, it is a biocompatible, antibacterial, and environmentally friendly polyelectrolyte, thus lending itself to a variety of applications, including water treatment, chromatography, additives for cosmetics, in textile treatment for antimicrobial activity, as novel bers for textiles, photographic papers, biodegradable lms, biomedical devices, and microcapsule implants for controlled release in drug delivery (Aye and Stevens 2004, Gossen 1997).
