Design of functional chitosan films: antimicrobial and heavy metal capture applications

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

BackgroundChitosan is a biodegradable polymer obtained from natural, abundant and renewable sources. Cuantec Ltd is a Glasgow-based biotech company that has developed a unique biological process to extract chitin from the waste produced by fishery processing, from which it makes chitosan. Chitosan has been the focus of much research into its applications as an antimicrobial, and for its ability to capture heavy metals from contaminated water (see the reviews [1-3]). To impart mechanical strength, chitosan can be deposited as a thin film onto a supporting substrate, which might be in the form of nanoparticles, fibres, or large surface-area materials. In order to optimise the functionality of these chitosan films, a fundamental understanding of the nature of the interactions between the chitosan and the substrate is required. It is the purpose of this project to provide this insight using molecular modelling, and hence design, manufacture and test new functional coatings with tremendous potential for technological applications. Aims and ObjectivesWe aim to design functional chitosan films and coatings that can be utilised in applications such as biodegradable antimicrobial wipes, and for heavy metal recovery. We do this by studying the adsorption of chitosan onto material surfaces with differing chemistries, in order to optimise the film structure and identify the most effective substrates to use for a particular application. Furthermore, the designs will be tested experimentally in our laboratories, before creating a prototype product using Cuantec's facilities during the industrial placement. The objectives are therefore:-To simulate the adsorption of chitosan onto various material substrates with varying surface chemistry;-To simulate the adsorption of heavy metals onto the films, and design pH-responsive recovery procedures;-To design, test and optimise substrate-chitosan structures for - antimicrobial applications- heavy metal recovery;-To develop prototype systems for commercial development.