Diana Eka Pratiwi, Abdul Wahid Wahab, Yusafir Hala, Hasri, Suriati Eka Putri
The valorization of shrimp shell waste into functional antibacterial materials is a promising strategy to address environmental and health challenges. Herein, chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) were synthesized from whiteleg shrimp shell waste (Litopenaeus vannamei) and investigated for their effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species. The ionic gelation method was employed to synthesize CS-NPs by varying the starting chitosan concentration at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5% (w/v). Functional group analysis was performed to characterize CS-NPs using an FTIR spectrophotometer, particle size distribution was analyzed using a Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), and morphological characterization was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). CS-NPs displayed a particle size distribution between 29 and 32 nm. SEM analysis indicated that CS-NPS has a smooth surface with no agglomeration. The resulting CS-NPs were then examined for their antibacterial activity. The antimicrobial activity assay toward Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus revealed that CS-NPs demonstrated remarkable bactericidal activity toward both E. coli and S. aureus, demonstrating an unusual fourfold enhancement in efficacy toward Gram-negative E. coli relative to Gram-positive S. aureus. Thus, CS-NPs from white leg shrimp shells represent promising candidates for sustainable antibacterial. ©2026 The authors.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Makassar, 90244, Indonesia
