Chitosan-based Maillard self-reaction products: Formation, characterization, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential

Abstract

In this work, new chitosan derivatives (CS1-CS6) were obtained by short-term hydrothermal treatment. The formation of chitosan derivatives occurred through two simultaneous processes: hydrolysis and Maillard self-reaction. The synthesized chitosan-based Maillard self-reaction products were characterized by physical measurements and spectroscopic methods (viscometry, UV–Vis, FTIR, 1H NMR, TGA and XRD). The results showed that hydrothermal treatment of chitosan solutions leads to a significant decrease (from ∼ 66500 up to ∼ 20150 Da) in the viscosity-average molecular weight of polymer. It has been shown that the antiradical activity of CS1-CS6 was 2-5 times higher in comparison with the activity of unmodified chitosan (1.42 µg ascorbic acid equivalents/mg). The enhanced (R value ≥ 4-5) antimicrobial activity of CS1-CS5 derivatives against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria including thermophilic highly heat-resistant Geobacillus stearothermophilus has been demonstrated.

Keywords

• Chitosan
• Maillard reaction
• Melanoidins
• Antioxidant activity
• Antimicrobial activity