Chitosan

Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)

Chitosan is a biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic natural polysaccharide substance. Its other technical names are poly(β-[1,4]-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine) and poly(N-acetyl-d-glucosamine). This substance is derived from chitin, which is the main component of the shells of shells of crayfish and insects, and the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature after cellulose. To obtain chitosan, chitin is processed by alkaline deacetylation.

Chitosan finds applications in a number of industries. It is used in the food industry as a natural preservative or as a dietary supplement for weight reduction, as it is believed to have the ability to bind fats to itself. In the cosmetics industry, it is used for the production of creams, shampoos, gels or toothpastes, as it has the ability to bind water and thus improve skin and hair hydration. In medicine, chitosan is used for the production of plasters, bandages and stitches, but also for the production of medicines because of its antibacterial properties. It is also used in the textile industry to produce functional clothing with antibacterial properties, in agriculture as an organic pesticide and in the paper industry to improve the quality of paper.