ABSTRACT
Chitin, a natural polysaccharide, is the most widely used biomaterial as compared with other biological macromolecules. It can be extracted from crustacean shells, which are common byproducts of seafood processing plants; the yearly yield of chitin is known to be approximately 1.5 × 108 tons. Although abundant quantities of byproducts are generated from seafood processing plants, they have not yet been fully explored. The use of chitin is limited, possibly due to its poor solubility. However, due to its bio-affinity properties, chitin has been used in medical materials such as artificial skin and surgical suture. However, chitosan, produced by chitin deacetylation, has a diverse range of applications. Initially, chitosan had been widely used owing to its high adsorptive properties. It can be used as a wastewater treatment agent, heavy metal absorbent, immobilized enzyme carrier, and a chromatography resin. In recent years, studies have revealed that chitosan has various physiological properties such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and immune-enhancing activities. Furthermore, it can be used in food and medicinal materials. Chitosan has agricultural applications as well: it can be added to animal feeds and coated on seeds to prevent blight and increase harvests.
