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Review
. 2024 May 15;9(5):297.
doi: 10.3390/biomimetics9050297.

Update on Chitin and Chitosan from Insects: Sources, Production, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications

Zhenying Mei  1 , Pavel Kuzhir  1 , Guilhem Godeau  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Update on Chitin and Chitosan from Insects: Sources, Production, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications

Zhenying Mei et al. Biomimetics (Basel). .

Abstract

Insects, renowned for their abundant and renewable biomass, stand at the forefront of biomimicry-inspired research and offer promising alternatives for chitin and chitosan production considering mounting environmental concerns and the inherent limitations of conventional sources. This comprehensive review provides a meticulous exploration of the current state of insect-derived chitin and chitosan, focusing on their sources, production methods, characterization, physical and chemical properties, and emerging biomedical applications. Abundant insect sources of chitin and chitosan, from the Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Dictyoptera, Odonata, and Ephemeroptera orders, were comprehensively summarized. A variety of characterization techniques, including spectroscopy, chromatography, and microscopy, were used to reveal their physical and chemical properties like molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, and crystallinity, laying a solid foundation for their wide application, especially for the biomimetic design process. The examination of insect-derived chitin and chitosan extends into a wide realm of biomedical applications, highlighting their unique advantages in wound healing, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and antimicrobial therapies. Their intrinsic biocompatibility and antimicrobial properties position them as promising candidates for innovative solutions in diverse medical interventions.

Keywords: biomedical; biopolymer; carbohydrate valorization; characterization; environmental applications; extraction; industrial; insect chitosan.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Chitin molecular structure. (B) Three crystalline allomorphic forms of chitin. (C) Chitosan molecular structure.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Insect sources of chitin and chitosan.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Production process for chitin and chitosan from insects.
Figure 4
Figure 4
FTIR spectrograms of (a) chitin and (b) chitosan extracted from Zophobas morio larvae in varying sodium hydroxide concentration. Reprinted with permission (5665301211911) from Soon et al. [39].
Figure 5
Figure 5
XRD pattern of (A) chitin and (B) chitosan from cuticles of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and (C) commercial chitosan. Reprinted with permission (5665350347326) from Lucas et al. [101].
Figure 6
Figure 6
TGA/DTG curves of (a) chitin and (b) chitosan from Drosophila melanogaster. Reprinted with permission (5665311251852) from Kaya et al. [85].
Figure 7
Figure 7
13C NMR data of mealworm chitin (A), shrimp chitin (B), and mealworm chitosan (C). 1H NMR data of mealworm chitosan (D). Reprinted from Son et al. [36].
Figure 8
Figure 8
SEM images of four insect species: (a) Celes variabilis female, (b) C. variabilis male, (c) Decticus verrucivorus female, (d) D. verrucivorus male, (e) Melanogryllus desertus female, (f) M. desertus male, (g) Paracyptera labiate female, (h) P. labiate male. Reprinted from Kaya et al. [50].
Figure 9
Figure 9
Biomedical applications of chitin and chitosan from insects.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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