This study examines a new, enzyme-based method for the surface deacetylation of chitin nanocrystals. Chitin nanocrystals were prepared by hydrolysis of milled chitin with 3 N HCl. Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, a chitin deacetylase-producing fungus, was recovered from sporulating lesions on a snap bean with symptoms characteristic of anthracnose. A single spore was transferred to acidified potato dextrose agar and incubated at 28�C for 7 days. The fungus was inoculated into liquid growth medium and grown with shaking for 7 days, after which the fungal cells were separated from the medium by centrifugation. For surface deacetylation, chitin nanocrystals were incubated in the crude enzyme extract for 24 h. Progress of the enzymatic deacetylation reaction was monitored by acetate assay. The size and surface charge of the chitin nanocrystals before and after the reaction were measured by conductometric titration, zeta potential measurement, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering.

Enzymatic surface deacetylation of chitin nanocrystals

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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