Synthesis of water-soluble oxidized chitosan derivatives and their biological activity

Oxidized chitosan derivatives were prepared by CrO3 oxidation of chitosan f ollowed by N-acetylation, and their effect on canine polymorphonuclear cell s was evaluated. The water-solubility of oxidized chitosan derivatives (DS: 0.10-0.28) in the range of pH 1-13 was controlled by the degree of N-acety lation (DA), and the oxidized chitosan derivatives of DA 76 and 83% were so luble in water at the neutral pH range. Effect of oxidized chitosan derivat ives on canine polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was estimated by the reported chemiluminescence (CL) technique, and the peak count of CL induced by zymo san after the treatment of PMNs with oxidized chitosan derivatives was lowe r than that induced by only zymosan.