Abstract
Water-insoluble chitosan with molecular weight of 2,000,000, 580,000, 80,000, and 40,000 and more than 90% of degree of deacetylation were prepared to test antibacterial activity of chitosan against a pathogenic bacteria, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). As experimental method, the Shake Flask Method (SFM) and Modified Shake Flask Method (MSFM) were applicated. The anti-microbial activity of chitosan/acetic acid aqueous solution is consistent irrespective of Mw of chitosan. MIC value of SFM measurement was 0.2 ppm, and MIC value of modified SFM measurement was 25 ppm. But MIC value of chitosan/acetic add solution and chitosan treated cotton filter paper was equally 5 ppm. The antibacterial activities of chitosan were different in different test measurements employed. The antibacterial activities of chitosan/acetic acid solution and chitosan treated cotton filter paper were also different. Therefore, it needs to be pointed out that the test measurements of anti-microbial activity have some problems.
