• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.338-344
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• 1998

New type of chitosan derivatives, chitosan-g-MAP, were synthesized by graft copolymerization of mono (2-methacryloyl oxyethyl) acid phosphate (MAP) into chitosan, in order to solubilize chitosan in water. Ceric ammonium nitrate was used as an initiator for graft copolymerization. The optimal conditions for graft copolymerization were determined on the basis of reaction temperature, time, and the concentration of initiator and monomer. The reaction conditions for the highest percentage of grafting were as follows: an initiator concentration, 3.5${\times}$10$\^$-3/ M; monomer concentration, 0.19 M; and reaction temperature, 40$^{\circ}C$ The reaction rate reached the maximum value after 4 hrs of reaction. Antifungal activity was tested against Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton violaceum by using chitosan-g-MAP and two other chitosan samples which have degree of deacetylation of 70% (DA-7) and 90% (DA-90). Their antifungal activities were investigated in weak acidic range. Maximum antifungal activity of them was observed at pH 5.75. Chitosan-g-MAP inhibited thoroughly the growth of Candida albicans and Trichophyton violaceum. Howerver, DA-70 and DA-90 showed higher antifungal activities on Trichophyton rubrum than that of chitosan-g-MAP.