Preparation of novel thiolated chitosan with significant antioxidant activity

The aim of this study was to synthesize thiolated chitosan derivative and evaluated its antioxidant activity. Thiol groups were introduced into chitosan and hydroxypropyl trimethylammonium chloride chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (HACC) by microwave reaction, respectively. At the same time, a series of compounds containing thiol groups were introduced at the amino site. The structure of the chitosan derivatives was identified by FTIR and 1 H NMR. The thiol groups content, thermal stability, water solubility and cytotoxicity of the chitosan derivative were evaluated. The antioxidant activity of chitosan derivatives was evaluated using superoxide anion radical scavenging activity assay, DPPH radical scavenging activity assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity assay and reducing power assay. The results showed that the thiolated chitosan derivatives obtained in this study possessed excellent antioxidant activity, which provides a new idea for the further study of chitosan antioxidants.