Impact of Acidity and Metal Ion on the Antibacterial Activity and Mechanisms of β- and α-Chitosan

This study investigated the effects of acidity and metal ion on the antibacterial activity of α- and β-chitosan at different molecular weights (Mw, 22–360 kDa) against Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua through agar well diffusion assay. Spectrophotometric, electrophoretic, and confocal fluorescence microscopy analysis were further employed to evaluate the antibacterial mechanisms probably involved. Increasing pH from 4.0 to 5.0 weakened the...