Physicochemical studies of the structure of chitosan and nanochitosan from Apis mellifera

This study investigates the extraction of chitosan from Apis mellifera biomass and the synthesis of nanochitosan by ionic gelation combined with ultrasonication. Chitosan was obtained through microwave-assisted deacetylation of chitin isolated from dried honeybee exoskeletons, yielding a product with a molecular weight of 103 kDa and a degree of deacetylation of approximately 80%. Nanochitosan was prepared by crosslinking chitosan with sodium tripolyphosphate in an acidic medium, followed by ultrasonic treatment. Dynamic light scattering analysis showed a decrease in Z-average particle size from 305.9 nm for chitosan to 170.2 nm for nanochitosan, confirming successful nanoparticle formation. However, the high polydispersity index (1.831) indicated considerable aggregation and the need for further optimization of synthesis conditions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed preservation of the main chitosan structure, while spectral changes in the 1550–1600 cm–1 and 1240–1260 cm–1 regions verified ionic crosslinking with sodium tripolyphosphate. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a porous hierarchical morphology, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the elemental composition and the presence of phosphorus, supporting successful crosslinking. Overall, Apis mellifera is a promising sustainable source of chitosan, and the proposed synthesis approach yields nanochitosan with favorable physicochemical properties for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

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