Crystal Morphology, Biosynthesis, and Physical Assembly of Cellulose, Chitin, and Chitosan

Abstract Cellulose and its chemical analogs chitin and chitosan are abundant and technologically important fibrous polysaccharides. Cellulose and chitin are, respectively, the first [1] and second [2] most abundant natural polysaccharides. Chitosan, though less prevalent in nature, is a useful and easily accessible derivative of chitin. All three polymers are biodegradable, renewable resources with versatile chemical and physical properties. As such, they are the subject of active scientific and commercial scrutiny.