Abstract

BIOLOGICAL EXTRACTION OF CHITIN AND CHITOSAN FROM MARINE FUNGI, IT’ S CHARACTERIZATION, ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY, ANTITEXTILE ACTIVITY AGAINST MDR PATHOGENS AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

Dr. K. Anandhi*

Abstract

Chitin, the insoluble linear β 1, 4-linked homopolymer of N-acetyl Dglucosamine (GlcNAc) is the second most abundant natural polysaccharide (after cellulose). Chitosan is a cationic amino polysaccharide, essentially composed of β-1,4 D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) linked to N-acetyl D-glucosamine residues, derived from de- N-acetylation of chitin. These polysaccharides are found in a wide range of natural sources such as crustaceans, insects, annelids, molluscans, coelenterates and it’s a common constituent of fungal cell wall. In the present study chitin/chitosan was extracted from Aspergillus spp. and Trichoderma spp. isolated from Pitchavaram a mangrove forest soil. The chitin and chitosan was extracted using 2% w/v sodium hydroxide solution for 2 hours, followed by acetic acid treatment. Crude chitin/chitosan was collected (yield was 500mg of mycelium) 0.1g of chitin/chitosan was obtained. Silver and Gold nanoparticles were synthesized by using 1mm Ag No3 & 1mm Au Cl4 respectively. The Bionanocomposites were characterized using UV-visible, FT-IR and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) study. Antibacterial study was also conducted against Multi Drug Resistant pathogens. Further antitextile and anticancerous activities were carried out.

Keywords: Chitin, Chitosan, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FT-IR), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), MDR (Multi Drug Resistant), KBr- Potassium bromide.