Chitosan

Linear polysaccharide derived from chitin used in wound dressings.

Core Principles & Analysis

• It is produced by deacetylating chitin from shrimp and crab shell waste, chitin being the second most abundant natural polysaccharide after cellulose.
• Positively charged in mildly acidic conditions, chitosan aggregates red blood cells and is the active agent in battlefield hemostatic dressings.
• It is intrinsically antimicrobial and biodegradable, finding additional use in seed coatings and as a flocculant in water treatment.

Specifications & Metrics

• DENSITY: 1.40 g/cm³
• YIELD STRENGTH: 40 MPa (film)
• HARDNESS: N/A