Processing of α-chitin nanofibers by dynamic high pressure homogenization: Characterization and antifungal activity against A. niger

• Dynamic high pressure homogenization a simple method to obtain chitin nanofibers.
• The obtained chitin nanofibers presented uniform width and high aspect ratio.
• Nano nature of chitin nanofibers plays an important role in antifungal activity.
• Chitin nanofibers shape contributes to a major breakthrough in chitin applications.

Chitin nano-objects become more interesting and attractive material than native chitin because of their usable form, low density, high surface area and promising mechanical properties. This work suggests a straightforward and environmentally friendly method for processing chitin nanofibers using dynamic high pressure homogenization. This technique proved to be a remarkably simple way to get α-chitin into α-chitin nanofibers from yellow lobster wastes with a uniform width (bellow 100 nm) and high aspect ratio; and may contributes to a major breakthrough in chitin applications. Moreover, the resulting α-chitin nanofibers were characterized and compared with native α-chitin in terms of chemical and crystal structure, thermal degradation and antifungal activity. The biological assays highlighted that the nano nature of chitin nanofibers plays an important role in the antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger.