PCh/01/2025
Water-Soluble Phosphate Derivative
Phosphorylated Chitosan – a multifunctional, water-soluble chitosan derivative with enhanced biocompatibility, mineral-binding capacity, and regenerative properties for medical, cosmetic, and environmental use.
Phosphate groups improve solubility & bioactivity
Promotes bone regeneration & osteoblast adhesion
Strong antioxidant & anti-inflammatory effects
Ideal for drug delivery, wound healing, and dental coatings
Binds heavy metals & calcium – useful in water treatment
Medical, R&D, and cosmeceutical grades available
| Property | Value | Test method | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Off-white to pale yellow powder (conforms: pale yellow fine powder) | Visual inspection | Batch COA |
| Solubility in water | Fully soluble | 1% aq. solution at RT | High DS: also soluble in organic solvents |
| Purity (on dry basis) | ≥ 99.0% (result: 99.1%) | Analytical / titration | Batch COA |
| Phosphorus content (w/w) | 2.0 – 6.0% (result: 4.3%) | Elemental analysis / XPS | Batch COA; FTIR confirmation standard |
| pH (1% aqueous solution) | 4.5 – 6.5 (result: 5.2) | pH meter | Batch COA |
| Moisture content | ≤ 10% (result: 7.6%) | Karl Fischer titration | Batch COA |
| Insoluble matter | ≤ 1.0% (result: 0.21%) | Gravimetric | Batch COA |
| Degree of Substitution (DS) | 0.3 – 1.0 (result: 0.73); standard supply 0.2 – 0.7 | Phosphorus content / ¹H-NMR, ³¹P-NMR | Customs DS on request |
| Substitution site | C-6 hydroxyl (standard route) | ¹H-NMR / ³¹P-NMR, FTIR | C-2/C-3 substitution on request |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Packaging size | Available in 1 kg and 100–500 kg lots (bulk packaging: sealed bags/drums, custom pack sizes on request) |
| Packaging type | Sealed food-grade containers / bags, moisture-protected; bulk industrial and research packs available |
| Storage condition | Store in a sealed container at room temperature, protected from moisture and direct sunlight; reconstituted solutions freshly prepared or refrigerated |
| Shelf life | 3 years from date of manufacture |
| Quantity | Price / quote | Packaging | Shipping |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kg | $180/kg | Sealed moisture-resistant packaging | USA total includes 15% tariff and $60 FedEx shipping |
| 100–500 kg | $160/kg | 25 kg fiber drums with polyethylene liner | Tariff and freight are calculated separately |
| 500 kg+ | Contact Us for Pricing | IBC or customized bulk packaging | Contact us for a dedicated logistics quote |
Water-Soluble Phosphate Derivative | DS 0.2–0.7 Available | Calcium-Binding | Antioxidant | Hermetia illucens Source | COA Included
Phosphorylated chitosan (also called chitosan phosphate or P-chitosan) is a water-soluble, multifunctional chitosan derivative produced by introducing phosphate ester groups onto the chitosan backbone. This single chemical modification transforms chitosan’s biological profile: it gains strong calcium- and metal-binding capacity, enhanced antioxidant activity, broad-spectrum antibacterial performance and — critically for biomedical researchers — the ability to nucleate apatite-like mineral formation, the foundation of its use in bone regeneration and dental biomaterials research. Our phosphorylated chitosan is produced from Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) sourced chitosan, a sustainable, circular-economy insect chitin source.
Phosphorylated chitosan is produced by reacting chitosan with phosphorus-containing reagents to graft phosphate (or phosphonate) groups onto the polymer backbone. Published synthesis literature describes three principal reaction routes, each producing a structurally distinct product:
The choice of synthesis route determines exactly where phosphate groups attach — C-2 (amino), C-3 (secondary hydroxyl) or C-6 (primary hydroxyl) — which in turn affects solubility behavior, charge profile and biological activity of the water-soluble chitosan derivative. The defining quality parameter across all routes is the degree of substitution (DS): the proportion of available reactive sites that have been successfully phosphorylated, typically reported as a decimal (e.g. DS 0.20, DS 0.50, DS 0.70) or as phosphorus content (wt%) via elemental or X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis.
DS is not a minor technical footnote — published research demonstrates it directly determines product behavior:
We offer DS 0.2–0.7 as standard, with custom DS specification available for research and pharmaceutical-grade orders — confirm your target DS at time of inquiry.
Compare with other water-soluble derivatives: Chitosan Hydrochloride — Water-Soluble Salt Form.
The phosphate ester groups on phosphorylated chitosan closely mimic the function of phosphoserine and other phosphorylated proteins found naturally in bone extracellular matrix, such as osteopontin. Published bone-regeneration research demonstrates that phosphorylated biomaterials can catalyze the nucleation of apatite crystals — the calcium phosphate mineral that forms the structural basis of bone tissue. While standard chitosan is biocompatible and biodegradable, it is not inherently osteoinductive on its own; phosphorylation is one of the modification strategies researchers use to add this missing bioactive function. A landmark peer-reviewed study by Wang et al. (2001) established that water-soluble phosphorylated chitosan is an effective additive in calcium phosphate cements.
In published animal studies, phosphorylated chitosan (P-chitosan) combined with calcium phosphate cement and implanted into rabbit bone defects supported stabilization of the defect site and showed progressively improving bone formation on radiographs across a 22-week observation period, with implant biodegradation occurring alongside new bone growth — outperforming unmodified controls in healing trajectory.
Phosphorylated chitosan’s antioxidant activity has been characterized through standard in vitro assays in the literature, including Fe³⁺ reducing power, hydroxyl radical scavenging, DPPH radical scavenging, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The mechanism is attributed to two combined effects: the phosphate groups’ metal-chelating capacity (sequestering pro-oxidant metal ions such as Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ that catalyze oxidative reactions) and the electron-donating capacity of the modified polymer backbone. Notably, published research on highly substituted phosphorylated chitosan (DS ≈0.70) reports antioxidant activity comparable to ascorbic acid (vitamin C) — a benchmark natural antioxidant.
Phosphorylated chitosan demonstrates antibacterial activity that increases with degree of substitution. Published in vivo research on highly substituted phosphorylated chitosan reports antibacterial effects more pronounced than the commercial antibiotics ampicillin and gentamicin in tested models, with no observed acute or subacute toxicity — a notable safety and efficacy combination for a bio-based material.
In a published diabetic wound healing study, phosphorylated chitosan-treated excisional wounds in a diabetic rat model achieved 91.11% wound contraction by day 14, compared to 67.26% in untreated controls — results independently supported by Anushree et al. (2022) on phosphorylated chitosan-accelerated dermal wound healing. Histopathological analysis showed improved tissue morphology, a thicker epithelial layer, higher fibroblast counts, enhanced collagen deposition, and increased angiogenesis in treated wounds. Biochemical markers showed a 57% increase in hydroxyproline and 25% increase in hexosamine content versus untreated wounds, alongside significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased lipid peroxide levels — consistent with the antioxidant mechanism described above, contributing directly to accelerated healing.
Related wound care application: Carboxymethyl Chitosan — Hydrogel & Wound Care Derivative.
Phosphorylated chitosan is researched as a functional additive for calcium phosphate bone cements and as a component in composite bone scaffolds, where it supports mineral nucleation and integration with the bone repair environment, while its inherent biodegradability allows the material to resorb as new bone tissue forms. Research applications include:
Related biomedical polymer: Quaternary Chitosan — Permanently Cationic Biomedical Polymer.
The same calcium-binding and osteoconductive-support mechanism that benefits bone regeneration research extends to dental material applications, where phosphorylated chitosan is studied as a coating or additive supporting:
Building on the published diabetic wound healing data, phosphorylated chitosan is used in research-stage wound care formulations including:
Phosphorylated chitosan’s strong calcium- and metal-binding capacity makes it useful as a chelating agent in water treatment and industrial process chemistry:
Full water treatment application guide: Sustainable Water Treatment with Chitosan — Applications & Dosage.
Highly substituted phosphorylated chitosan (DS ≈0.7) has been documented in published research as an effective homogeneous catalyst demonstrating approximately 100% yield in model monoglyceride synthesis reactions within 3 hours. This positions high-DS phosphorylated chitosan as a green chemistry catalyst alternative for esterification and related industrial reactions — an underexplored B2B application beyond biomedical use.
In cosmetic formulation research, phosphorylated chitosan’s antioxidant activity, mineral-binding capacity, and film-forming properties are studied for:
Cosmetics application depth: Chitosan in Cosmetics — Green Beauty Formulation Guide.
| Property | Phosphorylated Chitosan | Standard Chitosan | CMC |
|---|---|---|
| Functional Group | Phosphate ester | Free amine | Carboxymethyl |
| Water Solubility | Full (moderate–high DS) | Acid only (pH <6.5) | Wide pH |
| Calcium / Metal Binding | Strong phosphate chelation | Moderate (amine chelation) | Moderate (carboxyl chelation) |
| Antioxidant Activity | Strong — comparable to ascorbic acid at high DS | Mild | Moderate |
| Osteoconductive Support | Yes — documented apatite nucleation support | No inherent osteoinductivity | Limited |
| Antibacterial Activity | Strong, DS-dependent | Moderate (pH-dependent) | Mild |
| Best Use Cases | Bone / dental biomaterials, wound healing, water treatment, catalysis | Agriculture, food, general flocculation | Cosmetics, wound hydrogels |
Our phosphorylated chitosan begins with chitosan derived from Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) larvae — an insect chitin source increasingly favored across biomedical and industrial supply chains for its consistency and sustainability profile:
If your formulation or regulatory pathway specifically requires shellfish-derived or mushroom-derived (fully vegan) phosphorylated chitosan instead, contact us — we can discuss custom sourcing for qualifying bulk orders.
Learn about insect-origin chitosan: Insect-Origin Chitosan — Sourcing & Sustainability.
Compare all chitosan source origins: Types of Chitosan — Full Source & Derivative Range.
Full wholesale and bulk pricing: Chitosan Global Wholesale Pricing — All Products.
Download current batch COA: Get COA.
Our supply chain approach: Responsible Supply Chain & Sustainability Policy.
Select your package above to add to cart, or contact us to discuss custom degree of substitution, alternate synthesis route, or pharmaceutical-grade documentation requirements.
Email: steve@chitosanglobal.com | Phone: +1 423-202-6145
Functional additive for injectable and moldable calcium phosphate bone cements, composite scaffolds with hydroxyapatite, osteoblast-adhesion coatings on implants, and bone-defect filler research; phosphate groups support apatite mineral nucleation and implant biodegradation alongside new bone growth
Learn moreDental cement and restorative material modification, remineralization-supporting coatings for early-stage demineralized enamel research, and antibacterial dental additives acting on oral pathogens
Learn moreHydrogel and film-forming wound dressings, chronic and diabetic wound care research formulations; published diabetic rat model: 91.11% wound contraction by day 14 (vs 67.26% control) with increased collagen, fibroblast counts and angiogenesis
Learn moreHeavy metal ion binding and removal (Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe³⁺) from aqueous waste streams, calcium sequestration for hard-water scale control, complementary flocculation with cationic chitosan flocculants
Learn moreHigh-DS (≈0.7) phosphorylated chitosan as a green homogeneous catalyst; ~100% yield in model monoglyceride synthesis within 3 hours; candidate for esterification and related reactions
Learn moreResearch/industrial grade: dissolve in water (fully water-soluble at moderate–high DS) for hydrogels, coatings, bone cement additives or chelation applications. For biomedical/pharma use, confirm target DS (0.2–0.7 standard; custom available) with supplier and follow TDS formulation guidance. Not for human consumption.
Certificate of Analysis — Phosphorylated Chitosan (PCh), Batch PCh/01/2025, Promecens Entosystems Pvt Ltd. Cas: 9012-76-4; Avg MW 240.12 kDa; phosphorus 4.3% w/w; DS 0.73. Tests: appearance (off-white to pale yellow powder) conforms; odor odorless; water solubility fully soluble; purity on dry basis ≥99.0% (result 99.1%); phosphorus 2.0–6.0% (4.3%); pH 1% aq. 4.5–6.5 (5.2); moisture KF ≤10% (7.6%); insoluble matter ≤1.0% (0.21%); heavy metals as Pb ≤10 ppm (nil); DS 0.3–1.0 (0.73); bulk density 0.3–0.6 g/cm³ (0.48); residual ash ≤1.5% (0.93%). All results conform.
Document pending. Please contact us if you need this document before ordering.
How chitosan and its derivatives (incl. phosphorylated chitosan) remove heavy metals Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe³⁺ sequester calcium for scale control, and complement flocculation; application & dosage guide
Applications of chitosan derivatives in anti-aging, film-forming and mineral-fortifying skincare formulations
Why Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) insect chitin is a circular-economy alternative to crustacean shellfish sources consistency, footprint, traceability
X. Wang et al., Carbohydrate Polymers, 2001 (Cited 300+). The foundational paper: P₂O₅/CH₃SO₃H synthesis gives water-soluble P-chitosan (C-6 substituted); demonstrates its role as additive in calcium phosphate bone cements
Anushree et al., 2022 (PMC, 59 citations). In vivo diabetic model: accelerated healing, improved collagen deposition, antioxidant-mediated mechanism — matches the 91.11% day-14 contraction data
Phosphorylated chitosan is a water-soluble chitosan derivative with phosphate ester groups grafted onto the polymer backbone. Its main uses: bone regeneration and dental biomaterials (supports apatite mineral nucleation and calcium binding), wound healing formulations, antibacterial and antioxidant coatings, heavy-metal chelation in water treatment, industrial catalysis, and cosmeceutical formulations.
Yes. Unlike standard chitosan which dissolves only in acidic conditions (pH <6.5) the phosphate groups make phosphorylated chitosan fully water-soluble at moderate to high degree of substitution (DS), across a wider pH range. High-DS grades are even soluble in organic solvents. Standard supply: DS 0.2–0.7.
By reacting chitosan with phosphorus reagents. Three documented routes: H₃PO₄/urea, H₃PO₄/Et₃PO₄/P₂O₅ (both favor substitution at the C-2 amino group), and P₂O₅/CH₃SO₃H (methanesulfonic acid), which protects amino groups and directs phosphorylation to the C-6 hydroxyl group. The route determines the substitution site and the product's properties (confirmed by FTIR, ¹H/³¹P-NMR, XPS).
Yes, this is its best-documented biomedical use. Its phosphate groups mimic naturally phosphorylated bone matrix proteins and support apatite crystal nucleation, making it a proven additive in calcium phosphate bone cements and composite scaffolds Source: Wang 2001. Animal studies show progressive new bone formation with biodegradable implants over ~22 weeks.
Yes. In a published diabetic rat model, phosphorylated chitosan-treated wounds reached 91.11% contraction by day 14 vs 67.26% in untreated controls — with increased collagen deposition (57% higher hydroxyproline), higher fibroblast counts, and enhanced angiogenesis Source: Anushree 2022, PMC. The mechanism links to its antioxidant and metal-chelating activity.
