Antimicrobial Activity of Chitosan Oligosaccharides with Special Attention to Antiparasitic Potential

The global rise of infectious disease outbreaks and the progression of microbial resistance reinforce the importance of researching new biomolecules. Obtained from the hydrolysis of chitosan, chitooligosaccharides (COSs) have demonstrated several biological properties, including antimicrobial, and greater advantage over chitosan due to their higher solubility and lower viscosity. Despite the evidence of the biotechnological potential of COSs, their effects on trypanosomatids are still scarce. The objectives of this study were the enzymatic production, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic effects of COSs. NMR and mass spectrometry analyses indicated the presence of a mixture with 81% deacetylated COS and acetylated hexamers. COSs demonstrated no evidence of cytotoxicity upon 2 mg/mL. In addition, COSs showed interesting activity against bacteria and yeasts and a time-dependent parasitic inhibition. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated a parasite aggregation ability of COSs. Thus, the broad biological effect of COSs makes them a promising molecule for the biomedical industry.

Palavras-chave

antiprotozoal chitooligosaccharides neglected tropical disease Leishmaniasis Chagas disease chitosan chitin Drug Discovery Parasitology SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure SDG 13 - Climate Action SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10362/122438

DOI

10.3390/md19020110

Coleções

IHMT: PM - Artigos em revista internacional com arbitragem científica

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