Hydrolysis of chitozan with an enzyme complex from Myceliophthora sp.

Abstract

Samples of low-molecular weight chitosan with molecular masses of 8-24 kDa, identical deacetylation degrees (85%), and polydispersity indexes soluble at pH 5-7 were obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis using an enzyme complex from the micelial fungi Myceliophthora fergusii with yields of 50-80%. The optimal conditions for hydrolysis were found (pH 5.6, 37 degrees C, an enzyme/substrate ratio 1/800, 15-60 min). The obtainment of chitosan sample sets with different characteristics will enable the selection of the most efficient ones for comparison in in vitro/in vivo experiments.