• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 1994

The ether-type chitin derivatives were synthesized by reacting chitin with chloropropane, propylene oxide and chloropropane diol to form propyl chitin(PPC), hydroxypropyl chitin(HPC) and dihydroxypropyl chitin(DHPC). These derivatives formed a lyotropic cholesteric liquid crystallinity in concentrations over 30 wt% solution in formic acid (99%). Cast films from liquid crystalline solutions were degraded by lysozyme in pseudo-extra cellular tluid(PECF)solutions, at pH 1.2, pH 6.7 and pH 8.2. Three ether-type chitin derivatives rapidly degraded within the first week, and showed a decreased mechanical strength in neutral pH range. Dihydroxypropyl chitin showed the best biodegradation among these derivatives.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.403-408
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• 1993

Hydroxypropyl chitin(HPCH) was prepared from chitin by reacting it with propylene oxide. The formation of liquid crystalline character of HPCH was investigated using halogenated organic solvents. Solid state $^{13}C$ NMR spectra for chitin and HPCH confirmed the incorporation of hydroxypropyl moiety. The degree of substitution of HPCH was around 0.8 as detected by elemental analysis. WAXD patterns of chitin and HPCH showed that an incorporation of hydroxypropyl unit in chitin contributed to reducing the crystallinity and enhancing the solubility in organic solvents. Polarized light microscopic pictures of concentrated HPCH solution showed that HPCH formed cholesteric liquid crystalline character at about 25w/v% solution in dichloroacetic acid and 1, 2-dichloroethane. Inherent viscosity of HPCH solution in a mixed solvent showed a transient decrease.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.516-521
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• 1992

Hydroxypropyl chitin (HPCH) was prepared by reacting chitin with propylene oxide. HPCH showed the improved solubility in several organic solvents compared with chitin. It showed the remarkable solubility in formic acid. Form the results of polarized microscopic observatoin of HPCH solution in formic acid, finger-print pattern was observed in concentrations over 30 wt% solution. Since no typical thermogram was observed in DSC scan, the HPCH showed a lyotropic cholestric liquid crystallinity.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 1995

The $\beta$-chitin derivatives were synthesized by reacting $\beta$-chitin with chloropropane, propyleneoxide and chloropropane diol to form propyl chitin (PPC), hydroxypropyl chitin (HPC) and dihydroxypropyl chitin (DHPC), respectively. Cast films from $\beta$-chitin and $\beta$-chitin derivatives solutions degraded by Iyrozyme in pseudo-extrra cellular fluid (PECF) solutions, at pH1.2, pH6.7 and pH8.2. Chitin derivatives rapidly degraded compared with virgin $\beta$-chitin within the first week. DHPC showed the best biodegradation among these derivatives.