Chitosan growth effects

Chitosan solution was also used to coat seeds of peail millet and foliar spray. Chitosan was effective on the growth of pearl millet. Chitosan treatment increased the height of pearl millet from 81.6 cm (control) to 115.7 cm (treatment). The number of tiUers, number of ear heads, and 1000 seed weight also increased significantly in the treated plants compared to the untreated plants. It was found that there was 19% increase in 1000 seed weight and 50% in number of ear heads (Saralhchandra and Jaj 2004). 

Peculiar characteristics of chitins and chitosans are hemostatic action, anti-inflammatory effect, biodegradability, biocompatibihty, besides antimicrobial activity, retention of growth factors, release of glucosamine and M-acetylglucosamine monomers and oligomers, and stimulation of cellular activities [11,12,295-297]. 

Chitosan microsphere-encapsulated human growth hormone seems to be quite effective in early bone consolidation in distraction osteogenesis [342]. 

Many studies have been conducted on the antimicrobial activity of chitosan since Allan and Hadwiger (1979) first reported that chitosan and its derivatives had broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects. The group of researches proved that chitosans are capable of inhibiting the growth of some microorganisms including bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. 

Hirano, S. and Nagao, N. (1989). Effects of chitosan, pedic acid, lysozyme and chitinase on the growth of several phytopathogens. Agric. Biol. Chem. 53, 3065-3066. 

Takahashi, T., Imaia, M., Suzukia, I., and Sawai, J. (2008). Growth inhibitory effect on bacteria of chitosan membranes regulated by the deacetylation degree. Biochem. Eng.. 40, 485-491. 

Data in Table IV show the permeabilizing effect of chitosan expressed in release of total proteins when chitosan was used as the immobilizing agent in complex coacervate capsules, but suggest low cell viability as measured by respiration. However, Beaumont and Knorr (10) reported that fresh weight of cells recovered at the end of a culture period in the growth medium is a better indicator of actual cell viability than respiration data. 

Chitosan has been used as a molecular template to promote formation of nanosized PPy particles on silica.171 Interestingly, another biomolecule (Heparin) has been shown to have a similar templating effect. In the case of Heparin, it acts as both the molecular dopant and a (nano) structure-directing template.172 Interestingly, the fibrils continue to grow in this form even after they leave the constraints of the membrane,173 indicating that once a pattern of growth is imprinted, it continues. 

---