Carboxymethyl chitosan zinc supplement: Preparation, physicochemical, and preliminary antimicrobial analysis

Abstract

Enrichment of carboxymethyl chitosan with zinc provides alternative means of producing aqueous soluble chitosan-based material with antimicrobial and essential trace element properties. The change in FTIR spectra of bands at 3,266 and 3,106 cm⁻¹ of the carboxymethyl chitosan from a strong to a weak band confirmed the formation of carboxymethyl chitosan zinc supplement. From the EDX result, elemental composition of carboxymethyl chitosan is 52.89% carbon, 39.34% oxygen, 0.38% sodium, 0.54% aluminum, 2.61% calcium, and 4.19% aluminum, while carboxymethyl chitosan zinc supplement recorded 49.55% carbon, 40.40% oxygen, 1.28% sodium, 2.37% nitrogen, and 6.40% zinc. The XRD spectrum of carboxymethyl chitosan showed a lower peak intensity as compared with that of its zinc supplement. The antibacterial activities showed that carboxymethyl chitosan zinc supplement was active against all tested bacterial having recorded 6.00, 5.00, 3.00, 7.00, and 6.00 zone of inhibition (mm), respectively, against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, while carboxymetyhl chitosan was active only against S. aureus (6.00 mm). Antifungal activities revealed that carboxymethyl chitosan zinc supplement had higher zone of inhibition (mm) 42.22, 40.00, 37.78, and 48.88 mm against Collectotrichum falcritum, Rhzoctonia solani, Colletotrihum lindematianum, and Trichhoderum rubrum, while carboxymethyl chitosan recorded 26.66, 18.88, 15.88, and 22.22 respectively. The combination of aqueous solubility and antimicrobial activities of the zinc-supplemented carboxymethyl chitosan prepared should make it a good replacement for carboxymethyl chitosan in various industrial applications like food, cosmetics, biomedical, and pharmaceutical.

Keywords:

• antimicrobial-polymer
• zinc-supplement
• biomaterial
• chitosan
• carboxymethylchitosan
• instrumental-analysis

Public Interest Statement

Lack of certain essential mineral like zinc could cause negative developmental effect in both adult and children. This can make children prone to various infections and could affect pregnancy development in woman. Thus, this research seeks to proffer solution to zinc deficiency through the use of chitosan-based derivative-carboxymethyl chitosan zinc supplement. Metal composition of the produced products revealed that 5.40% zinc. The product showed antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli with 6.00, 5.00, 3.00, 7.00, and 6.00 zone of inhibition (mm), respectively. The fungicidal activities recorded 26.66, 18.88, 15.88, and 22.22 zone of inhibition (mm), respectively, against Collectotrichum falcritum, Rhzoctonia solani, Colletotrihum lindematianum, and Trichhoderum rubrum. The product could be useful in industrial applications like food, cosmetics, biomedical, and pharmaceutical.

Additional information

Funding

Funding. The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Notes on contributors

Olugbenga Oludayo Oluwasina

Olugbenga Oludayo Oluwasina is a lecturer at the Department of Chemistry Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State Nigeria. He obtained his PhD in Industrial Chemistry from the same University. His research activities are focused on wood product, biomaterial, and natural products beneficiation.