CHITOSAN – IRON COMPLEX (III)
PRODUCT PROFILE
SYNTEX S.A.
Luis De Sarro 501 - (B1838DQK) – Luis Guillón – Buenos Aires – Argentina – Tel./Fax: (54 11) 4367-6100 syntex@syntexar.com –
www.syntexar.com
Brief Introduction
Chitin is one of the most abundant natural polysaccharides, obtained industrially
from fishing activity residues, particularly crutaceous shells. Chitosan is the
chitin desacetyled form, which can be obtained through different desacetylation
grades. Having free amino groups, chitosan can be solubilized in acid solutions
via protonation of the mentioned amino groups (1).
Chitosan is non-toxic, biodegradable, biocompatible and of polycationic
behaviour, unlike exclusively polyalcoholic structure polysaccharides.
Chitosan then shows two reactivity centres at least, same as alcoholic hydroxyl
and amino groups that are acetylation free. This is made by a material with
complexing properties of transition metals, which in last years have been
subjected to scientific and technical studies (2).
Chitosan complexes with iron, copper, zinc, etc. are well known, as well as their
applications.
Within its activities in macromolecular organometalic compounds, Syntex S.A.
has developed Chitosan – Iron (III) complexes with several applications, be they
pharmaceutical or different fields of industrial activity.
SYNTEX S.A.
Luis De Sarro 501 - (B1838DQK) – Luis Guillón – Buenos Aires – Argentina – Tel./Fax: (54 11) 4367-6100 syntex@syntexar.com –
www.syntexar.com
Use
Chitosan –Iron complexes have been prepared, characterized and studied in
their relation structure – activity (2). They recognize application as antimicrobial
agents where the complex exerts more microbicide activity than chitosan and
trivalent iron separatedly (1); in therapeutic environment its use has been
investigated inasmuch as ferric biopolymer, as possible drug transporter under
the form of controlled liberation pearls (3).
In Agriculture, it has been successfully tested for bacterial and fungoid illnesses
control in vegetables (4), as wood preservatives, etc.
In general, it can be assured that the study of chitosan metallic complexes´ field
of application (and chitosan ´s itself) is in permanent expansion.
Production
Syntex S.A. has produced chitosan – iron (III) macromolecular complexes to
bench–top scale (mutigram).
Patent Status
Syntex S.A. has produced chitosan – iron (III) complexes according to previous
bibliography (5) (6) (7) (8) and therefore patenting should not be aspired.
Note
Ideas and data previously mentioned must be understood just as guidelines in
applications development and not as a recommendation of use against any patent.
SYNTEX S.A.
Luis De Sarro 501 - (B1838DQK) – Luis Guillón – Buenos Aires – Argentina – Tel./Fax: (54 11) 4367-6100 syntex@syntexar.com –
www.syntexar.com
Bibliographic Reference
1. Burke, A., Yilmaz, E., Hasiri, N., Turk, J. Med. Sci. 30, 341-348 (2000)
2. Wang, X., Du, Y., Fan, L., Liu, H., Hu, Y., Polymer Bulletin 55, 105-113
(2005)
3. Klepka, M. et al; Synchroton Rad. in Nat. Sci., Vol 5 N°3 (2000) (polish)
4. Ben-shalom, N., Pinto, R., US Patent 6589942 (08/07/03)
5. Chiesi, E., et al, Int. J. Biol. Macromol., 15 (3), 145-51 (1993)
6. Ogawa, K., Oka, K., Chem. Materials, 5, 726-28 (1993)
7. Barbucci, R. et al, Macromolecules, 19, 37-42 (1986)
8. Xueqiong Yin et al, Arkivoc (IX) 66-78 (2004) (www.arkat-usa.org)
SYNTEX S.A.
Luis De Sarro 501 - (B1838DQK) – Luis Guillón – Buenos Aires – Argentina – Tel./Fax: (54 11) 4367-6100 syntex@syntexar.com –
www.syntexar.com