Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Study of Chitosan Schiff Base Derivatives

Chitosan is natural, biodegradable, and biocompatible hydrophilic polysaccharide of â(1-4)-linked Dglucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine prepared from chitin. The remarkable biological properties have paved the way for the introduction of chitosan in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Chitosan, a bio-based polymer which has similar characteristics to those of cellulose, exhibits cationic behaviour in acidic solutions and strong affinity for metals ions. Various chemical modifications have been investigated to improve the properties of chitosan and thus to increase its range of applications. The antimicrobial activity of chitin , chitosan and their derivatives against different groups of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi has received considerable attention in the present time. Keeping in view the ample potentials of the antimicrobial activity of chitosan, we have made an attempt to prepare, a Chitosan-base Schiff-based (CSB) compound with an aromatic substituent group. This was synthesized by the reaction of Chitosan with an aromatic aldehyde p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. The Chitosan-based Schiff base metal complexes were subsequently obtained through the reaction of newly synthesized Schiff bases with metal chlorides. The obtained products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antifungal activity of Chitosan Schiff base and its metal complexes were measured against Rhizopus fungus and antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. These results show that it has both antifungal and antibacterial activity. Chitosan Schiff metal complex have higher antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.