Reaction of Gelatin and Chitosan with Water Soluble Carbodiimides

Abstract

Earlier research from this laboratory has demonstrated thefeasibility of using chemical and enzymatic treatments onprotein and carbohydrate waste products for the purpose ofmaking fillers to enhance the properties of leather. In ourongoing studies, we examined the reactivity of variousconcentrations of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) with gelatin, chitosan and combinations ofboth, and found that both gelatin and chitosan had reactivitywith EDC. Moreover, when the gelatin and chitosan were reactedtogether in the presence of the carbodiimide, the physicalproperties improved significantly over those of the protein andcarbohydrate when reacted separately. In this continuing study,less expensive, commercially available, water-soluble andenvironmentally safe multifunctional carbodiimides werereacted with gelatin, chitosan and mixtures of gelatin andchitosan for the purpose of making biopolymers. The physicalproperties, molecular weight distribution of gel products arereported, as well as epi-fluorescent imaging. Initial resultsindicate reactivity similar to EDC. These studies should lead toa better understanding of the reactivity of carbodiimide andoptimal conditions for developing appropriate products.