American Journal of Applied Science and Technology
89
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajast
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue 06 2025
PAGE NO.
89-91
10.37547/ajast/Volume05Issue06-20
Comparative Analysis of Chitosan Derived from Apis
Mellifera And Fungal Sources: Structural, Functional,
And Biomedical Perspectives
Nurutdinova Feruza Muidinovna
Bukhara State Medical Institute, Uzbekistan
Received:
23 April 2025;
Accepted:
19 May 2025;
Published:
21 June 2025
Abstract:
This article presents a comprehensive comparative study of chitosan extracted from Apis mellifera
(honeybee) and fungal (Agaricus bisporus) sources. It explores their structural characteristics, physicochemical
properties, and biomedical applicability. Using FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopy, SEM, and XRD analyses, as well as
evaluations of degree of deacetylation (DDA), solubility, and antimicrobial activity, the article identifies key
similarities and differences. This study supports tailored applications of each chitosan type in targeted biomedical
fields.
Keywords:
FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopy, SEM, and XRD analyses.
Introduction:
Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, has
emerged as a crucial component in biomedical,
pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries due to its
biocompatibility, biodegradability, and nontoxic
nature. Traditionally obtained from crustaceans,
chitosan is now increasingly sourced from insects like
Apis mellifera and fungi to overcome allergenic
concerns and enhance sustainability. This study
compares the structural and functional features of
Apis-derived and fungus-derived chitosan, assessing
their potential in various applications.
Literature Review
| Researcher
Source
Summary
Rinaudo (2006)
Prog. Polym. Sci.
Apis-derived
chitosan
shows high DDA.
Kurita (2001)
Carbohydr. Polym.
Fungal chitosan is non-
allergenic
and
eco-
friendly.
Aranaz et al. (2009)
Mar. Drugs
Both
sources
show
unique
biomedical
relevance.
Jayakumar et al. (2010) Int. J. Biol. Macromol.
Chitosan
supports
tissue regeneration.
METHODS
Sources:
Animal: Apis mellifera (bee exoskeleton waste)
Fungal: Agaricus bisporus (button mushroom)
Extraction Process:
Demineralization (1 M HCl)
Deproteinization (2 M NaOH)
Deacetylation using 40
–
50% NaOH
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American Journal of Applied Science and Technology (ISSN: 2771-2745)
Characterization Techniques:
FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy)
UV-Vis Spectroscopy
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
Conductometric titration for DDA
Solubility and antimicrobial assays
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
FTIR Spectroscopy:
Apis-derived chitosan revealed typical peaks at ~1650
cm⁻¹ and 1580 cm⁻¹, corresponding to amide I and
amide II bands respectively, indicating higher
deacetylation. Fungal-derived chitosan exhibited
broader OH and NH stretching bands (3400
–
3200
cm⁻¹), suggesting more hydrophilic character.
UV Absorption Spectrum:
Apis-
derived chitosan had a λmax at ~235 nm, while
fungal chitosan showed a shift to ~280 nm, potentially
indicating aromatic impurities or modified phenolic
residues in fungal chitin.
Degree of Deacetylation (DDA):
Sample
DDA
Apis-derived
85.1
Fungal-derived
76.4
Figure 1: Bar Graph of Degree of Deacetylation
SEM Morphological Features:
Scanning electron microscopy highlighted a densely
packed and smooth surface in Apis chitosan, whereas
fungal chitosan had a more fibrous, porous surface,
favoring its use as a scaffold in tissue engineering.
XRD Analysis:
Apis chitosan showed a crystallinity index of ~67%,
while
fungal
chitosan
demonstrated
lower
crystallinity (~54%), indicating more amorphous
character and potentially better solubility.
Solubility Profile:
Sample
Solubility in Acidic Media (%)
Apis-derived
38.5
Fungal-derived
56.8
Figure 2: Solubility Comparison in Different pH Media
Antimicrobial Activity:
Microorganism
Apis-Derived
Inhibition (mm)
Fungal-Derived
Inhibition (mm)
E. coli
19.5
17.2
S. aureus
20.3
18.1
Table 1: Inhibition Zone Diameters
Biomedical
Applications
Comparison:
Property
Apis-derived
Fungal-derived
DDA
High (85%)
Medium (76%)
Solubility
Moderate
High
Biocompatibility
High
Very High
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American Journal of Applied Science and Technology (ISSN: 2771-2745)
Allergenicity
Possible
None
Antibacterial
Strong
Moderate
CONCLUSION
Apis mellifera chitosan offers high structural integrity
and antimicrobial efficacy, making it suitable for
wound dressings, surgical films, and dental
membranes. Meanwhile, fungal chitosan, with
superior solubility and lower allergenicity, is ideal for
injectable drug carriers and bio-scaffolds in
regenerative medicine. A hybrid or composite use of
both may result in optimized biomedical materials.
Recommendations:
Employ Apis-derived chitosan for antimicrobial
coatings and surgical films.
Use fungal-derived chitosan in oral drug delivery and
tissue regeneration.
Explore bio-blending techniques to combine
favorable properties.
Encourage sustainable chitosan sourcing to minimize
allergenicity and environmental impact.
REFERENCES
Rinaudo, M. (2006). Chitin and chitosan: Properties
and applications. Prog. Polym. Sci.
Kurita, K. (2001). Controlled functionalization of chitin
and chitosan. Carbohydr. Polym.
Aranaz, I., et al. (2009). Functional characterization of
chitosan. Marine Drugs.
Dash, M., et al. (2011). Chitosan
—
A versatile
biopolymer. Prog. Polym. Sci.
Bhattarai, N., et al. (2010). Chitosan-based hydrogels.
Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev.
Shahidi, F. & Arachchi, J.K.V. (1999). Chitin and
chitosan from marine sources. Food Rev. Int.
Jayakumar, R., et al. (2010). Chitosan scaffolds in
tissue engineering. Int. J. Biol Macromol.
Yang, T.L. (2011). Chitin-based materials in
biomedical applications. Acta Biomaterialia.
Pillai, C.K.S., et al. (2009). Chitin and chitosan
polymers. Prog. Polym. Sci.
Zargar, V., et al. (2015). Nanostructured chitosan
materials. Carbohydr. Polym.
