Synthesis of Water-soluble Oxidized Chitosan Derivatives and Their Biological Activity

Oxidized chitosan derivatives were prepared by CrO3 oxidation of chitosan followed by N-acetylation, and their effect on canine polymorphonuclear cells was evaluated. The water-solubility of oxidized chitosan derivatives (DS: 0.10-0.28) in the range of pH 1-13 was controlled by the degree of N-acetylation (DA), and the oxidized chitosan derivatives of DA 76 and 83% were soluble in water at the neutral pH range. Effect of oxidized chitosan derivatives on canine polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was estimated by the reported chemiluminescence (CL) technique, and the peak count of CL induced by zymosan after the treatment of PMNs with oxidized chitosan derivatives was lower than that induced by only zymosan.