Polymer film produced by a marine bacterium.

Biojelly is a sort of polymer that is formed on a cellulose acetate membrane immersed in seawater. Interestingly, Biojelly inhibits attachment of marine organisms such as algae and barnacles. We could successfully isolate several marine microorganisms from Biojelly-attached microorganisms.

Michael reaction of chitosan with various acryl reagents in water.

A Michael reaction of chitosan was conducted in water containing acetic acid with various acryl reagents. The degree of substitution could be controlled by temperature, reaction time, and the amount of acryl reagents. Although the modified chitosan derivatives with acrylic acid esters showed water-solubility, that with poly(ethylene glycol) acrylate, however, turned to water-insoluble material by lyophilization.

Chemical modification of chitosan. Part 15: synthesis of novel chitosan derivatives by substitution of hydrophilic amine using N-carboxyethylchitosan ethyl ester as an intermediate.

The Michael type reaction of chitosan with ethyl acrylate has been investigated. Although this reaction was quite slow in the case of chitosan, the reiteration of the reaction was an effective means for increasing the degree of substitution (DS) of ethyl ester. The N-carboxyethylchitosan ethyl ester as an intermediate was successfully substituted with various hydrophilic amines, although the simultaneous hydrolysis of the ester to carboxylic acid also occurred.