Journal of Environmental Biology

Chitosan-oligo-saccharide-ZnO-nanoparticle composite: A superior alternative to chitosan for biomedical applications

S. Visnuvinayagam¹*, V. Murugadas¹, L.N. Murthy^2,3,  A.A. Zynudheen¹, D. Karthikeyan⁴ and R. Atchudan^5,6     

¹ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin-682 029, India

²National Fisheries Development Board, Hyderabad, Budwel-500 052, India

³Mumbai Research Centre of ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Mumbai- 400 703, India

⁴Sapthagiri College of Engineering, Periyanahalli, Dharmapuri-635 205, India

⁵Department of Chemistry, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai-602105, India

⁶School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea

Received: 08 July 2024                   Revised: 15 September 2024                   Accepted: 11 November 2024

*Corresponding Author Email : visnuvinayagam@yahoo.co.in                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9989-5374

Abstract

Aim: The present study was designed to improve the antibacterial activity of Chitosan Oligo-Saccharide (COS) by incorporating Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). Additionally, the impact of various organic acids on chitosan (CH) was also examined.

Methodology: ZnO-NP was synthesised by sol-gel method and its nano-size was confirmed through various techniques such as UV-spectra, Scanning Electron Microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Thereafter, the ZnO-NP-CH composites were prepared with a different molecular weight of chitosan, i.e., COS, low, medium and high molecular weight of chitosan. The antibacterial activity of chitosan, including its ZnO-NP composite, was evaluated using different molecular weights with constant pH and deacetylation percentage. Additionally, chitosan was prepared in various organic acids to identify a suitable solvent.

Results: Most of the resistant bacteria became susceptible after the addition of ZnO-NP in all different molecular weight chitosan.

Interpretation: Chitosan Oligo-Saccharide antibacterial activity was improved at par with low molecular weight chitosan. Hence, the COS-ZnO-NP composite possessed a high antibacterial property of water-soluble nature, which will be useful for more food and biomedical applications.

Key words: Antibiogram, Chitosan, Nanoparticles, Zinc oxide

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