2. Academic Validation
  3. Strong Hydrophobic Interaction of High Molecular Weight Chitosan in Aqueous Solution

Strong Hydrophobic Interaction of High Molecular Weight Chitosan in Aqueous Solution

  • Biomacromolecules. 2025 Feb 10;26(2):1012-1022. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01333.
Haeun Kwon 1,  Jieun Choi 1,  Chanoong Lim 1,  Junseong Kim 2 3,  Asila Osman 3 4,  Yongseok Jho 2,  Dong Soo Hwang 3 5,  Dong Woog Lee 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 School of Energy & Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
  • 2 Department of Physics and Research Institute of Natural Science, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, South Korea.
  • 3 Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do 37673, Republic of Korea.
  • 4 Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11115, Sudan.
  • 5 Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University International Campus I-CREATE, Incheon 21983, South Korea.
PMID: 39836774 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01333
Abstract

Chitosan is a versatile bioactive polysaccharide in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals and environmental applications, owing to its abundance, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and Antibacterial properties. To effectively harness its potential for various purposes, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms of its interaction in water. This study investigates the interactions between high molecular weight (HMW, >150 kDa) chitosan and four different functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) at three different pHs (3.0, 6.5, and 8.5) using a surface forces apparatus (SFA). We report that HMW chitosan exhibits the strongest adhesion to methyl-terminated SAM (CH3-SAM) at all pHs, showing potential for strong hydrophobic interactions against Other molecules containing hydrophobic moieties. Noting that hydrogen bonding has been considered the dominating interaction mechanism of chitosan, the consequence of this study provides valuable insights into its applications in developing chitosan-based eco-friendly Materials.

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