Chitin and Chitosan: Properties and Applications

Chitin/chitosan is the natural biocontrol active ingredient, found in the shells of crustaceans, exoskeleton of mollusks and cell walls of fungi. Chitin can be converted into chitosan by different chemical and enzymatic deacetylation. Chitin and chitosan are used as drug carriers owing to biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic, character. Chitosan is an antimicrobial agent with applications in agriculture, industry, food, biomedical and biotechnology fields. Chitosan also acts as elicitors and has an ability to form films. Chitosan also has some therapeutic activities like lowering cholesterol, anti-ulcer, wound healing and anti-tumor activity.