Chitin, a fascinating biopolymer found in living organisms, fulfills current demands of availability, sustainability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, functionality, and renewability. A feature of chitin is its ability to structure into hierarchical assemblies, spanning the nano- and macroscales, imparting toughness and resistance (chemical, biological, among others) to multicomponent materials as well as adding adaptability, tunability, and versatility. Retaining the inherent structural characteristics of chitin and its colloidal features in dispersed media has been central to its use, considering it as a building block for the construction of emerging materials. Top-down chitin designs have been reported and differentiate from the traditional molecular-level, bottom-up synthesis and assembly for material development. Such topics are the focus of this Review, which also covers the origins and biological characteristics of chitin and their influence on the morphological and physical-chemical properties. We discuss recent achievements in the isolation, deconstruction, and fractionation of chitin nanostructures of varying axial aspects (nanofibrils and nanorods) along with methods for their modification and assembly into functional materials. We highlight the role of nanochitin in its native architecture and as a component of materials subjected to multiscale interactions, leading to highly dynamic and functional structures. We introduce the most recent advances in the applications of nanochitin-derived materials and industrialization efforts, following green manufacturing principles. Finally, we offer a critical perspective about the adoption of nanochitin in the context of advanced, sustainable materials.

Nanochitin: Chemistry, Structure, Assembly, and Applications

Chitin and its derivatives: Structural properties and biomedical applications

Chitin and lignin, by-products of fishery and plant biomass, can be converted to innovative high value bio- and eco-compatible materials. On the nanoscale, high antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cicatrizing and anti-aging activity is obtained by controlling their crystalline structure and purity. Moreover, electropositive chitin nanofibrlis (CN) can be combined with electronegative nanolignin (NL) leading to microcapsule-like systems suitable for entrapping both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules. The aim of this study was to provide morphological, physico-chemical, thermogravimetric and biological characterization of CN, NL, and CN-NL complexes, which were also loaded with glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) as a model of a bioactive molecule. CN-NL and CN-NL/GA were thermally stable up to 114 °C and 127 °C, respectively. The compounds were administered to in vitro cultures of human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) for potential use in skin contact applications. Cell viability, cytokine expression and effects on hMSC multipotency were studied. For each component, CN, NL, CN-NL and CN-NL/GA, non-toxic concentrations towards HaCaT cells were identified. In the keratinocyte model, the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α that resulted were downregulated, whereas the antimicrobial peptide human β defensin-2 was upregulated by CN-LN. The hMSCs were viable, and the use of these complexes did not modify the osteo-differentiation capability of these cells. The obtained findings demonstrate that these biocomponents are cytocompatible, show anti-inflammatory activity and may serve for the delivery of biomolecules for skin care and regeneration.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/11/2669/pdf

Chitin Nanofibrils and Nanolignin as Functional Agents in Skin Regeneration.

The paper describes the process to produce Chitin Nanofibril-Hyaluronan nanoparticles (CN-HA), showing their ability to easily load active ingredients, facilitate penetration through the skin layers, and increase their effectiveness and safety as an

https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9284/1/3/140/pdf

Chitin-Hyaluronan Nanoparticles: A Multifunctional Carrier to Deliver Anti-Aging Active Ingredients through the Skin †

Porous scaffolds based on nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) and chitosan (CS), are among the composite materials that hold great potential in tissue engineering applications. The aim of this work was to develop porous chitosan-based scaffolds with high nHAp content (75% w/w) having increased mechanical properties that can be successfully machined into complex three-dimensional shapes. The scaffolds were prepared and characterized using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and μCT imaging. nHAp was prepared utilizing a biomimetic procedure employing hyperbranched poly(ethyleneimine), PEI, that affords stable nanoparticle dispersions in water, which were used in combination with CS, or N ‐acetylated CS, for the development of composite porous 3D scaffolds. For comparison, scaffolds using commercially available micron-sized hydroxyapatite particles (mHAp) were also prepared. Morphological analysis of scaffolds revealed an open interconnected highly porous structure with pores dimensions ranging from ∼200 μm to 700 μm, volume fractions of 79–83%, and surface/volume ratios of 25–30 mm −1 . In scaffolds consisting of commercial HAp, agglomerated particles are clearly observed, while when nHAp nanoparticles were used excellent dispersion is attained. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds (Young modulus under compression and compressive strength) are markedly improved by the use of nHAp and, even more, by the use of N ‐acetylated CS. The enhancement in mechanical strength is attributed to the nanoparticles’ excellent dispersion, and furthermore for the N -acetylated CS based scaffolds to its ability to form an extended hydrogen bonding network between adjacent polymer chains. The mechanical properties were proved sufficient enough for the production of 3D bio-implants of complex geometry employing a computer numerical control precision milling machine.

Hydroxyapatite/chitosan-based porous three-dimensional scaffolds with complex geometries

- Chitin Nanofibrils for Biomimetic Products: Nanoparticles and Nanocomposite Chitosan Films in Health Care

A Green Multifunctional Polymer from Discarded Material: Chitin Nanofibrils

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- Chitin Nanofibrils for Biomimetic Products: Nanoparticles and Nanocomposite Chitosan Films in Health Care

A Green Multifunctional Polymer from Discarded Material: Chitin Nanofibrils