Microencapsulation of norfloxacin in chitosan/chitosan oligosaccharides and its application in shrimp culture

Norfloxacin chitosan/chitosan oligosaccharide microcapsules (NCCM) were prepared by emulsion-chemical crosslinking method. The characteristics of obtained microcapsules were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and release experiments. Cumulative release profile of norfloxacin from the chitosan microcapsules in natural seawater was measured and the controlled release of drugs was at a uniform rate in 48   h. The chitosan microcapsules were applied onto the antibacterial study of the shrimp culture in natural seawater. It is observed that the seawater in the NCCM added groups was relatively clear and the biomass of Vibrio increased slowly in contrast to the control and norfloxacin groups. The inhibition rate of Vibrio in norfloxacin groups obvioursly decreased after the 5 th day, whereas, it remained high and stable during experiment period in NCCM groups. The results showed that the chitosan microcapsules as release materials have excellent antibacterial effects on Vibrio in the farming of Penaeus vannamei Boone. The controlled release could obviously reduce dosage of antibiotics and delivery times, and effectively improve the utilization rate of norfloxacin drugs for shrimps