2-Amino-2-deoxy-P-D-glucan

Polysaccharide Containing Polymers. Chitosan (Table 7.3-1) is composed of 2-amino-2-deoxy p-D-glucan and is prepared from naturally occurring chitin via alkaline deacetylation. Unlike other cationic polymers chitosan is nontoxic and biodegradable, making it an ideal candidate for therapeutic applications. Although the density of positive charges of chitosan is lower than for other cationic polymers. 

It is a linear amino polysaccharide made up of copolymers of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucosamine. (3 -1-4-glycosidic bonds link up the sugar backbone to form p (l-4)-2-amino-2 -deoxy- P -D-glucan [70] as desribed in Figure 7. 

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