Chitin and Chitosans: Characteristics, Eco-Friendly Processes and Applications in Cosmetic Science

Abstract

Huge amounts of chitin and chitosans can be found in the biosphere as important constituent of the exoskeleton of many organisms, as well as waste by worldwide seafood companies. Nowadays, politicians, environmentalists, and industrialists encouraged the use of these marine polysaccharides as renewable source, particularly when developed by alternative eco-friendly processes, especially in the production of regular cosmetics. The aim of this review is to outline the physicochemical and biological properties and the different bioextraction methods of chitin and chitosans sources, focusing on enzymatic deproteinization, bacteria fermentation, and enzymatic deacetylation methods. Thanks to their biodegradability, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and bioactivity, the application of these marine polymers is widely used in the contemporary manufacturing of biomedical and pharmaceutical products. In the end, advanced cosmetic products based on chitin and chitosans are presented, analyzing different therapeutic aspects about skin, hair, nail, and oral care. The innovative formulations described can be considered as excellent solutions regarding problems in the various body anatomical sectors.

Processed Animal Proteins from Insect and Poultry By-Products in a Fish Meal-Free Diet for Rainbow Trout: Impact on Intestinal Microbiota and Inflammatory Markers

“…Fermentation of chitin and its derivative chitosan leads to the production of several beneficial compounds, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in particular acetate, a precursor of the synthesis of butyrate, which exerts a well-known positive effect on gut and overall fish health, nutrient utilization, and disease resistance [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. Several species of Lactobacillus and other non-lactic bacteria such as Bacillus have been used as chitin fermenters [ 49 ], and this suggests that they may have a similar role in the fish gut. In our study, the chitinase producer Bacillus genus was found at high concentration in trout fed the highest H feed, as discussed later.…”

Current state of chitin purification and chitosan production from insects

“…In cosmetics, chitosan finds application in the production of creams and lotions. It is used as a moisturizing and UV‐protective agent for the skin 42 . A further application for chitosan is in wastewater treatment, where it is used as a flocculating agent owing to its ability to chelate cations and adsorb waste molecules from water, such as heavy metals 31, 43 …”

Magnetic transfection with superparamagnetic chitosan-loaded IGFBP5nanoparticles and theirin vitrobiosafety

“…However, due to its severe toxicity, including mitochondrial damage and apoptosis, the in vivo applications of PEI are limited [ 12 , 13 ]. CS is currently used in tissue engineering, drug and gene delivery, wound healing, and antibacterial and anti-tumour applications because of its physiological and biological activity; biocompatibility with a variety of organs, tissues and cells; low toxicity, with generally recognized as safe (GRAS) approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [ 14 – 16 ] and compatibility with chemical or enzymatic modifications. In addition, CS can be dissolved in acetic acid to condense the plasmid and prevent degradation by DNase, and it is a good substitute for viral vectors, but unmodified CS has a low transfection rate as a gene vector [ 17 ].…”