This research aimed to chemically modify chitin with positively charged groups at a physiological pH (near neutral) to provide antibacterial activity. Chitin betainate, a quaternary ammonium chitin, was prepared by acylation of chitin with carboxymethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as a coupling agent. The chemical structure was elucidated by FTIR analysis revealing the additional ester linkage peak at 1738 cm−1. Chitin betainate exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Therefore, chitin betainate is potentially suitable for antibacterial wound dressings.
Development of an antibacterial chitin betainate wound dressing