Controlled chemical modifications of chitosan. characterization and investigation of original properties

The main techniques developed to characterize chitosan are recalled. The interaction of chitosan with oppositely charged surfactants was investigated giving very important surface activity effects. A few chemical modifications are described and the new properties obtained are mentioned: alkylation gives amphiphilic polymers having interesting thickening behavior; grafting cyclodextrin (chit-CD) gives a polymer able to include hydrophobic molecules; grafting adamantane gives an amphiphilic polymer able to specifically interact with chit-CD forming a temporary network with gel-like behavior.