From food wastes to innovative crayfish chitosan bioactive membranes to fight common infections

Alexandra Pereira Conde, Sandra Borges, Telma Veloso, Joana L. Pereira, Sónia P. M. Ventura, Manuela Pintado

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Bacterial and fungal vaginal infections pose significant health risks, necessitating effective and practical treatment strategies. Traditional antimicrobial treatments include pills, lotions, gels, and capsules. Recently, vaginal films have gained popularity due to their softness, flexibility, and ability to dissolve in vaginal fluid. These films are composed of plasticizers, antimicrobials, and polymers (Machado et al., 2013). A vaginal film based on the derivative of crayfish chitin (chitosan) was created to offer sustainable treatment. Chitosan, a renewable and biodegradable biopolymer, presents exceptional chemical, physical, and biological properties. It is non-toxic, exhibits antibacterial activity, has mucoadhesive properties, and tends to gel upon dissolution, making it an ideal material for antimicrobial film production. The extraction procedure for chitin and its conversion to chitosan was established. The biomaterial was then characterized using FTIR, DSC, XRD, and DLS techniques. Subsequently, a bioactive membrane aimed at protecting against vaginal infections was developed. The interactions between the film and a simulated vaginal fluid were thoroughly examined, focusing on pathogenic microbes such as Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, MSSA, and MRSA. This study demonstrated as a proof-of-concept, the potential of chitosan-based films derived from crayfish shells for the prevention and treatment of vaginal infections (Zhao et al., 2018).
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRETASTE
Subtitle of host publicationRethink Food Resources, Losses, and Waste: 4th International Conference: book of abstracts
EditorsThrassyvoulos Manios, Katia Lasaridi, Konstantinos Abeliotis, Ioannis Daliakopoulos
PublisherHellenic Mediterranean University
Pages238-238
Number of pages1
ISBN (Print)9786188733015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2024
EventRETASTE: Rethink Food Resources, Losses, and Waste 2024 - Heraklion, Greece
Duration: 25 Sept 202427 Sept 2024
Conference number: 4
https://retaste.gr/

Conference

ConferenceRETASTE
Abbreviated titleRETASTE 2024
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityHeraklion
Period25/09/2427/09/24
Internet address

Keywords

  • Crayfish
  • Chitosan
  • Biological properties
  • Membranes
  • Vaginal infections

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