Structure and properties of chitosan salt complexes with ascorbic acid diastereomers

The study attests the effect of l- and d-diastereomers of ascorbic acid, which were used to prepare a salt form of chitosan, on the conformational features, structure, properties, supramolecular ordering, and biological activity of chitosan l- and d-ascorbates. The three-dimensional organization and functional characteristics of the diastereomeric salt form of the polymer are shown to be determined primarily by the configuration of the chiral ligand. The presented results open new routes to the design of chitosan-containing materials with controlled stereo-structure and biological functionality.