1. No category

CHITIN NANOFIBRILS AS SUPPORT FOR ADVANCED
MEDICATIONS, COSMETIC EMULSIONS AND FOOD PACKAGING
1
2
P. Morganti , A. Chianese , M.L. Nunziata
3
1
R&D Director, Nanoscience Center MAVI, Viale dell'Industria, 1 – 04011 Aprilia (LT), Italy
Materials & Environment, University “La Sapienza” Roma, Italy
3
Marketing Manager, Nanoscience Center MAVI, Viale dell'Industria, 1 – 04011 Aprilia (LT), Italy
2
Introduction
Chitin Nanofibrils (CN) is a crystalline polysaccharide with a needle-like form
(Fig.1). Derived from crustaceans waste, it is a natural biodegradable polymer with
haemostatic, bacteria static and wound healing properties.
Due to the fact that application of wound dressings might be painful for the patient,
sustained release is a desirable property of the formulation enabling the reduction in
need for dressing change. Moreover, for its crystal purity and physicochemical
characteristics, CN has been used as filler for composite materials to produce fibers
by the casting (Fig.2) or electrospinning technology (Fig.3).
Fig. 1
Fig. 3
Activity
Fig. 2
CN, in fact, used as filler for composite materials has shown to be an adaptable engineering material
useful to reinforce the fibre strength and elasticity (Fig.4), increasing the biodegradability of the
masterbatch used for producing food containers or shoppers (Fig.5). Naturally, its reinforcing effect
depends of the aspect ratio of the crystal chitin used, and therefore
on
its
origin
and
purity,
as
well
as
the
Fig. 3
processing technique used to make the composite.
Methods &
Results
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Finally by the gelation method, the electronegative CN (Fig.6) reacting with
other natural electronegative polymers, make stable block copolymeric
micro/nano lamellae and particles (Fig.7) which, embedded into
pharmaceutical, or cosmetic emulsions, are been used to produce effective
medical devices (Fig.8) and innovative cosmetics for skin aging (Fig.9).
This interesting natural polymer, in fact, for its nanosize dimension, high
surface area, high absorptive, biodegradable, non toxic, renewable, low
density and easy modification of its structure seems able to create a healthy
ecosystem capable to easily interact with cells, growth factors, proteins and
other compounds of the human body.
Conclusions
Fig. 8
Fig. 7
Fig. 6
Fig. 9
In conclusion, Chitin Nanofibrils could be considered a new raw material useful to support the
production of different goods. It is also Interesting to underline that industrial production and use of this
polymer, obtainable from fishery's waste, is in line with the EU, OECD and USA Directives. They, in fact,
support the growth of a Bio-Green-Economy for a sustainable industrial, development, based on a
major use of by-products accompanied by a reduction of water and energy consume, necessary to
safeguarding the human health and the biodiversity of our planet.
References:
1.Mavi sud (2006/2013) PCT No WO2006/048829; US 8,383-57B2 26, Feb 26,2013. - 2.Morganti P, Chen HD, Gao XH Del Ciotto P, Carezzi F, and Morganti G. Nanoparticles of Chitin Nanofibril-Hyaluronan block polymer entrapping Lutein as UVA protective compound. In: M. Yamaguchi (Ed) Carotenoids:
FoodSource, Production and Health Benefits, Nova Science Publishers Inc, NY, 2013, pp 237-259. - 3.Morganti P, Di Massimo M, Cimini C, and Del Ciotto P. Chitin nanofibrils-Hyaluronan block polymer characterized. Personal Care Europe, 6(4): 61-66; Personal Care Asia 14(6):49-54, 2013. - 4.Morganti
P, Palombo M, Fabrizi G, Guarneri F, Slovacchia F, Del Ciotto P, Carezzi F, Morganti G. New Insight on Anti-aging Activity of Chitin Nanofibril-Hyaluronan block copolymers entrapping active ingredients: In vitro and in vivo study. J Appl Cosmetol, 2013, 31:1-29. - 5.Morganti P,Tischenko G, Palombo M,
Kelnar L, Brozova L, Spirkova M, Pavlova EM, Kobera L, and Carezzi F. Chitin Nanofibrils for biomimetic products: nanoparticles and nanocomposite chitosan films in health-care, In: Se-Kwon Kim (Ed) Marine Biomaterials: Isolation, Characterization and Application, 2013, CRC-Press, New York, pp 681715. - 6.Morganti P. Chitin Nanofibrils and Their Derivatives as Cosmeceuticals, In: Chitin, Chitosan, Oligosaccharides and Their Derivatives. Biological Activities and Application, ed. by Se-Kwon Kim, CRC Press, New York, 2010, 531-542. -7.Vladimir E. Yudin, Irina P. Dobrovolskaya, Igor M. Neelov,
Elena N. Dresvyanina, Pavel V. Popryadukhin, Elena M. Ivan'kova, Vladimir Yu. Elokhovskii, Igor A. Kasatkin, Boris M. Okrugin, Pierfrancesco Morganti. Biodegradable composite chitosan/chitin nanofibrils films for food packaging. In CD-ROM of Full Texts. Praha: ýeská spoleþnost chemického
LQåHQêUVWYt2012. 0786. ISBN 978-80-905035-1-9.- 8.Yudin VE, Dobrovolskaya IP, Neelov IM, Dresvyanina EN, Popryadukhin PV Ivan'kova EM, Elokhovskii VY, KAsatkin IA, Okrugin BM, and Morganti P. Wet spinning of fibers made of Chitosan and Chitin Nanofibrils. Carbohydrate Polymers,
108:176-182, 2014. -9.Morganti P, Carezzi F, Del Ciotto P, Tishchenko G, and Chianese A. A Green Multifunctional Polymer from Discarded Material: Chitin Nanofibril, British J Appl Sci Technol, 2014, 4(29): 4175-4190. - 10.Morganti P, Tiscenko G, Palombo M, Kelnar L, Brozova L, Spirkova M,
Pavlova E, Kobera L, and Carezzi F. Chitin nanofibrils for biomimetic products: nanoparticles and nanocomposite chitosan films in health-care, In: Marine Biomaterials: Isolation, Characterization and Application, Se-Kwon Kim ed., CRC Press, New York, 2013, pp. 681-715. -11.Morganti P, Del Ciotto P,
Carezzi F, Morganti G. and Chen HD. From Waste Material a New and Safe Anti Aging Compound: A Chitin Nanofiber Complex, SOFW-Journal, 2012, 138(7): 128-38.- 12.Morganti P. Chitin Nanofibrils and Their Derivatives as Cosmeceuticals, In: Chitin, Chitosan, Oligosaccharides and Their Derivatives.
Biological Activities and Application, ed. by Se-Kwon Kim, CRC Press, New York, 2010, 531-542.
www.mavicosmetics.it - [email protected]