Evaluation of the chelating effect of chitosan solubilized in different acids

AIM: This study aimed to compare, through dentin microhardness and colorimetric analysis, the chelating effect of 0.2% chitosan solubilized in different acids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: = 10): GI - 0.2% chitosan solubilized in 1% acetic acid; GII - 0.2% chitosan solubilized in 3.3% citric acid; GIII - 0.2% chitosan solubilized in 0.00145% hydrochloric acid; and GIV - 0.2% chitosan solubilized in 0.00112% nitric acid. A control was made from the chelating properties of the following acids: GV - 3.3% citric acid, GVI - 0.00145% hydrochloric acid, GVII - 0.00112% nitric acid, and GVIII - control (distilled water). Afterward, they were subjected to the Knoop microhardness tester with a load of 10 g for 15 s, resulting in three indentations of the root canal toward the cement. The measurements obtained were subjected to the one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey's test (α =0.05). Subsequently dispensing the chitosan solutions, the same were subjected to colorimetric analysis. RESULTS: Chitosan solubilized in acetic acid, followed by chitosan in citric acid, provided a greater reducing effect compared to the other groups. Similar results were observed in the colorimetric analysis. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the chelating ability of the chitosan solution solubilized in acetic acid is higher than solubilization in citric, hydrochloric, and nitric acids.