Radiation-induced and sonochemical degradation of chitosan as a way to increase its fat-binding capacity

摘要

Three physical methods of chitosan degradation: irradiation in dry state, irradiation in aqueous solution and son-ication in aqueous solution were tested and compared in the terms of yields and side effects. The influence of average molecular weight of chitosan in its fat-binding ability in vitro has been studied by using a biopharmaceutical model of digestive tract. It was found that reduction in molecular weight leads to a significant increase in the amount of fat bound by 1 g of chitosan. Thus, radiation- or sonochemical treatment may be useful in improving fat-binding properties of chitosan as an active component of dietary food additives.