The Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Bioactive Chitosan Hydrogels from Lobster Shell Waste
Abstract
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Background. Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin, a polysaccharide abundantly present in the shells of marine crustaceans. It has good antimicrobial and biomedical applications. Chitosan plays a vital role in the production of hydrogels, which retain significant water-holding capacity and antimicrobial properties, making this biomaterial useful for treatment options, particularly in implant coatings and wound dressings. The current study focuses on the use of lobster shell waste to produce a bioactive, chitosan-based, hydrogel biomaterial with a wide range of biological applications. Lobsters provide a rich source of chitin, while the hydrogels act as carriers of pharmaceutical drugs. After structural characterization, these hydrogels were evaluated for their antibiofilm activity and dental applications.
Objective. The study focuses on the use of lobster shell waste as a source of chitosan hydrogels. Further, it evaluates the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of the prepared chitosan hydrogels against dental bacterial isolates.
Method. Polysaccharide chitin from lobster shells was isolated by deproteinization, demineralization, and deacetylization to yield chitosan. For hydrogel preparation, the dispersing agent, tween-80, and 2% acetic acid were mixed. Water holding capacity, swelling, and dissolution were monitored for structural evaluation. Agar well diffusion assay was performed against bacterial isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sp., E. coli, and Pseudomonas pneumoneae). Antibiofilm and hemolytic assays were also performed for biofilm and biocompatibility purposes.
Results. Synthesized chitosan hydrogels showed good water retention (51.25%) and swelling (10.45%), with the highest inhibition zone of 22 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, along with strong antibiofilm activity and better biocompatibility. Chitosan hydrogels against dental isolates (DI2, DI5, DI8, DI9) exhibited activity comparable to pyodine, suggesting strain-dependent efficacy of the hydrogel.
Conclusion. The current study suggests chitosan hydrogel as an effective and promising coating material for dental implants
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