New-chitosan characterization and its bioassay in different salinity solutions using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemia salina</Emphasis> as bio tester

New chitosan powder extracted from eggs capsules of Rapana venosa and commercial chitosan powder were analyzed by spectral (UV–Vis) and color methods. The novelty of this study consists in the first time toxicity evaluation of the chitosan extracted from the walls of Rapana venosa eggs capsules. The evaluation was focused on the cytological behaviour of the new-chitosan particles in two different salinity conditions (3 and 35‰), at different concentrations, on bio tester organisms. The aim of this study was to determine the biological effect of the chitosan easily extracted from new marine sources and with a low financial effort. The experimental studies were performed by exposure of Artemia salina larvae, naupliar stage in saline chitosan solutions. The larvae were picked-up in 24 h time, after hatching and they were placed in the experimental recipients of 1 mL volume capacities, three repetitions were made for each test. The bioassay effects were recorded at 24 and 48 h after experiment started. The toxicity was indicated by the registration of larvae mortality, probably, induced by the cell growth inhibitions. The obtained results showed that the high toxicity effects could be observed at low concentrations of chitosan, in law salinity solutions. Due to this cytotoxicity variability, chitosan solutions could be useful in a wide range of applications (antifouling, biomedical or sewage cleaning).