Natural thin chitin film production and characterization from Priapulus caudatus

Chitin is the most abundant polysaccharide after cellulose, which is widely used in various areas. It is found in different structure as Arthropods, mollusks, ringworms, sponges, algae, fungi, and corals. The forms of chitin in nature are in three types: α, β, and γ forms. Chitin has widespread applications in water treatment, textiles, pharmaceuticals, food, and agriculture due to its non-toxic, biodegradable, biocompatibility, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Biodegradable films produce from chitin and its derivatives are one of the most important products in the industry. In this study, the direct body integrity of the P. caudatus species was preserved and a completely natural thin chitin film was obtained. It was not known which form the chitin of this sample belonged to, but it was determined as a result of the characterizations that the chitin obtained for the first time belonged to the beta form. The physicochemical properties of the thin chitin film obtained from P. caudatus species were determined using FT-IR, TGA, XRD, SEM, and elemental analysis techniques. In addition, MTT assay revealed that it is not cytotoxic. As a result of this study, the isolated natural thin chitin film's surface morphology, thermal stability, crystallinity and the ratio of the contents of the element were determined. The natural chitin film obtained can be used in many areas of the future.