Chirality from Cryo-Electron Tomograms of Nanocrystals Obtained by Lateral Disassembly and Surface Etching of Never-Dried Chitin

Abstract

The complex nature of typical colloids and corresponding interparticle interactions pose a challenge in understanding their self-assembly. This specially applies to biological nanoparticles, such as those obtained from chitin, which typically are hierarchical and multidimensional. In this study, we obtain chitin nanocrystals by one-step heterogeneous acid hydrolysis of never-dried crab residues. Partial deacetylation facilitates control over the balance of electrostatic charges (zeta potential in the range between +58 and +75 mV), and therefore

First report of electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibers mats with chitin and chitosan nanowhiskers: Fabrication, characterization, and antibacterial activity

“…Although the preparation of both chitin and chitosan nanocrystals, highly crystalline spindle-like material with nanometric dimensions, is well established (Bai et al, 2020;Pereira, Muniz, & Hsieh, 2014;Pereira, Muniz, & Hsieh, 2015), the use of chitosan nanowhiskers (CsNWs) to modify the surface of CA nanofibers mats have not been reported yet. Therefore, this study develops processes to fabricate electrospun CA nanofibrous mats with CtNWs incorporated in the spin dope or CsNWs adsorbed on the fiber surfaces.…”

Microfibers synthesized by wet-spinning of chitin nanomaterials: mechanical, structural and cell proliferation properties

“…Besides, the interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding) between the surface functional groups of chitin and surrounding water 33 lead to swelled/loosen chitin bundles given that water can penetrate in the deacetylated chitin. 31 The presence of bril bundles was also observed in AFM images (Fig. S1 †).…”

“…Similar observation was made in the preparation of chitin nanocrystals. 31 Positively charged amino groups facilitate the debrillation of chitin brils. 32 Since amino groups are randomly distributed on the surface, a lateral disassembly occurs during the mechanical process (micro-uidization).…”

Oil‐in‐water Pickering emulsion stabilization with oppositely charged polysaccharide particles: chitin nanocrystals/fucoidan complexes

“…Bai et al . examined the natural characteristics of chitin using cryo‐electron tomograms and its self‐assembly in the liquid crystalline phase 12 . Zhu et al .…”

“…However, the method used for obtaining nanocrystals was simpler and more controllable than that used for forming nanofibers; moreover, the nanocrystals displayed a length of less than 1 μm, whereas the nanofibers presented a length of over 1 μm 14 . However, nanocrystals remained largely underexplored 12 . Tzoumaki et al .…”