Emerging chitosan grafted essential oil components: A review on synthesis, characterization, and potential application

Chitosan is a green, low-cost natural polymer material. The bioactivity of chitosan can be enhanced by coupling with essential oil chemicals, which can broaden the range of applications. Essential oil-chitosan (EOCS), the chitosan modified by essential oil components, which has been widely used as a multi-perspective in numerous filed of food and life in recent years. Herein, the synthesis, characterization, and recent application of EOCS are reviewed. Synthetic methods include 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC)-mediated modifi-cation, free radical-induced modification, enzyme-catalyzed modification, bromide-mediated modification, and method of forming Schiff-base directly. The successful synthesis of derivatives can be demonstrated by UV, FT-IR, TLC, and NMR. EOCSs can be used as preservative coatings, packaging materials, and antibacterial agents in the food industry, as well as drug delivery and wound treatment in biomedicine. In addition, EOCSs are also used in other industries, such as environmental protection, metal corrosion inhibition, as well as plant pest control.