The Moisture Absorption and Retention Abilities of Hyaluronan, Chitosan, Starch and Their Quaternary Derivatives

Quaternary ammonium salt of hyaluronan (QHA), quaternary ammonium salt of starch (QS), and quaternary ammonium salt of chitosan (QCTS) were successfully prepared. Infrared spectroscopy (IR), ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR techniques were used to characterize the molecular structure of QHA. Results showed that QHA had better moisture absorption abilities than HA both at 43% and 81% RH. QS and QCTS had the same tendency. In addition, the three quaternized polysaccharides had better moisture retention abilities than their corresponding polysaccharides under three humidity conditions: 81% RH, 43% RH and dry condition. The -N⁺ (CH₃)₃ group played a very important role in moisture-absorption and retention ability of the quaternized polysaccharides. QCTS and QHA showed parallel or better R_a and R_h than that of HA, and had potential to use as moisture-retention ingredient, e. g., in cosmetics.