Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chitosan?
Chitosan is a naturally occurring positively charged biopolymer derived from the deacetylation of chitin. This remarkable polysaccharide boasts an impressive array of inherent properties, including:
*Broad-spectrum Antimicrobial/Antifungal *Biodegradable *Biocompatible *Non-toxic *Non-immunogenic *Antioxidant *Free Radical Scavenger*Positively Charged
Who is Chitosan Global?
Chitosan Global is a division of Shield Nutraceuticals, Inc.
Our mission is to bring proven quality chitosan from top producers in Europe and Asia to the U.S. market.
We will work to educate and inform all sectors of industry how to replace toxic, inefficient, outdated compounds and ingredients with higher performing, exact types of chitosan for any application – for less.
What Types of Chitosan do you sell?
There are many different sources for chitin. They are:
Chitin from crustacean shells like shrimp, crab, lobster, and krill. This is called “shellfish source” or “shellfish-derived” in the industry.
Next is chitin from fungi. Many mushrooms have a good concentration of chitin in their cell-wall, upwards of 7%. We import many types of “Fungal Source” mushrooms and use chitosan oligosaccharide in may of our products.
Next there is chitosan from soldier fly larvae. We are the only source for this exotic type of chitosan in America. It creates a consistent, pure form of chitosan useful for making cosmetic ingredients and pharmaceutical products.
Finally there is chitosan from bacteria such as aspergillus. It is also a pure and exotic form of chitosan for advanced applications.
What Services does Chitosan Global perform?
Chitosan Global is the Chitosan Brokerage arm of Shield Nutraceuticals, Inc.
The main reason for establishing this company is that we are already importing mushroom chitosan from the largest producer in the world. We have experience and believe we can import as efficiently as is possible. The costs are what they are. You will always see every penny required for a successful and efficient importation. That’s all you will pay. You get copies of every receipt and invoice generated from the importation.
We currently broker for European, Asian and U.S. companies. We believe our prices and quality are appropriate in what is an exploding market.
We can advise how to use chitosan in 19 different applications and offer a Free 30-Minute Consultation about your project. Book it HERE.
What ingredients in cosmetics can chitosan replace?
Cosmetic Ingredients Replaceable by Chitosan Derivatives:
Film-forming agents: Chitosan can replace synthetic film-forming agents like polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl acetate (PVA) in hair care products.
Humectants: Chitosan can replace humectants like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and sorbitol in skin care products.
Moisturizing agents: Chitosan can replace moisturizing agents like petrolatum, mineral oil, and dimethicone in skin care products.
Thickeners: Chitosan can replace thickeners like carbomer, xanthan gum, and guar gum in various cosmetic products.
Emulsifiers: Chitosan can replace emulsifiers like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) in skin care products.
Antimicrobial agents: Chitosan can replace antimicrobial agents like triclosan and chlorhexidine in various cosmetic products.
Anti-aging agents: Chitosan can replace anti-aging agents like retinol and peptides in skin care products.
Sunscreen agents: Chitosan can replace sunscreen agents like oxybenzone and avobenzone in sunscreen products.
Chitosan is also of great interest in cosmetic formulations because it is compatible with other ingredients such as starch, glucose, saccharose, polyols, oils, fats, waxes, acids, nonionic emulsifers and nonionic water-soluble gums. However, chitosan is incompatible with ionic gums, sulfonated surface-active agents, alkalis, and sulfuric acids. Chitosan and its derivatives can be combined with other hydrating agents, UV filters, and other bioactive products used in the formulations.
Book a Free Consultation
If you don’t know what type of chitosan is best for your situation, Book an appointment. we will offer you an initial 30-minute consultation and product quotation at no charge.