生物高分子液晶的新家族——甲壳素及其衍生物

A Novel Family of Liquid Crystalline Biological Macromolecules——Chitin and Its Derivatives

讨论了生物高分子甲壳素及其衍生物形成液晶态的基本结构条件。简要介绍了为制备液晶性甲壳素衍生物所必须的一些主要的化学修饰途径。综述了十几年来甲壳素衍生物（主要是壳聚糖及其衍生物）液晶性的研究进展。介绍了甲壳素及其衍生物的液晶纺丝及其应用前景。指出甲壳素衍生物已成为纤维素之外生物高分子液晶的一个新的大家族。

The fundamental structural conditions for the biological macromolecules,chitin and its derivatives to form liquid crystalline phase are discussed. Some chemical modification methods necessary for preparation of chitin derivatives bearing liquid crystalline behaviors are briefly summarized. The studies on the liquid crystalline behaviors of chitin derivatives (mainly of chitosan and its derivatives) ever since 1982 are reviewed. Fiber spinning from lyotropic liquid crystalline solutions of chitin and its derivatives and its prospects of application are introduced. And it is concluded that chitin and its derivatives have made up a novel family ofliquid crystalline biological macromolecules besides celluloses.