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Peer-reviewedCC BYMolecules

Factors Determining the Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Chitosan: A Critical Analysis of the Impact of Molecular Weight and Degree of Deacetylation

  • Karolina Czajkowska1
  • Maciej Rybicki1
  • Karol Kamil Kłosiński1
  • Radosław Aleksander Wach2
  1. 1Medical University of Lodz
  2. 2Lodz University of Technology
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Abstract

Despite chitosan proven biocidal potential, there is a lack of consensus regarding the influence of its key physicochemical parameters, degree of deacetylation (DD) and molecular weight (MW), on its antimicrobial efficacy. The aim of this study was to quantitatively synthesize available literature data and statistically model the influence of chitosan DD and MW on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). A PRIS-MA-guided literature review (2016–2026) across four major databases extracted 127 independent in vitro experiments, Gram-positive/negative bacteria and fungi. Physi-cochemical correlations were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Insoluble polymer fractions (here set as DD < 60%) critically interfere with MIC determination due to restricted diffusion and were strictly excluded from analyses. For the optimized group of soluble chitosans (N=108, R²=0.36), DD was the dominant factor determining biocidal activity (p < 0.0001) – every 1% increase in DD reduces the logMIC by an average of 0.040. Contrary to some literature assumptions, a statistically significant (p = 0.029) negative directional coefficient for MW (-0.00038) demonstrated that a higher MW further enhances the biocidal effect. In summary, maximizing chitosan antimicrobial activity requires high DD polymers, and rigorous standardization (excluding insoluble fractions) is essential for the proper design of new biomaterials.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{czajkowska2026factors,
  title = {{Factors Determining the Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Chitosan: A Critical Analysis of the Impact of Molecular Weight and Degree of Deacetylation}},
  author = {Karolina Czajkowska and Maciej Rybicki and Karol Kamil Kłosiński and Radosław Aleksander Wach},
  journal = {Molecules},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.3390/molecules31142412},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31142412},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Factors Determining the Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Chitosan: A Critical Analysis of the Impact of Molecular Weight and Degree of Deacetylation
AU  - Karolina Czajkowska
AU  - Maciej Rybicki
AU  - Karol Kamil Kłosiński
AU  - Radosław Aleksander Wach
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/09
JO  - Molecules
DO  - 10.3390/molecules31142412
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31142412
AB  - Despite chitosan proven biocidal potential, there is a lack of consensus regarding the influence of its key physicochemical parameters, degree of deacetylation (DD) and molecular weight (MW), on its antimicrobial efficacy. The aim of this study was to quantitatively synthesize available literature data and statistically model the influence of chitosan DD and MW on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). A PRIS-MA-guided literature review (2016–2026) across four major databases extracted 127 independent in vitro experiments, Gram-positive/negative bacteria and fungi. Physi-cochemical correlations were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Insoluble polymer fractions (here set as DD < 60%) critically interfere with MIC determination due to restricted diffusion and were strictly excluded from analyses. For the optimized group of soluble chitosans (N=108, R²=0.36), DD was the dominant factor determining biocidal activity (p < 0.0001) – every 1% increase in DD reduces the logMIC by an average of 0.040. Contrary to some literature assumptions, a statistically significant (p = 0.029) negative directional coefficient for MW (-0.00038) demonstrated that a higher MW further enhances the biocidal effect. In summary, maximizing chitosan antimicrobial activity requires high DD polymers, and rigorous standardization (excluding insoluble fractions) is essential for the proper design of new biomaterials.
SN  - 1420-3049
SN  - 1433-1373
ER  -