The present study is focused on the effect of chitin derivatives against human cancer cell lines RD and Hep2. As an outcome from this research, chitin was cytotoxic at IC50 = 400 μg/ml and 200 μg/ml against Hep2 cells and RD cells lines, respectively. Irradiated chitin had an IC50 value of 450 μg/ml for Hep2 and an IC50 of 200 μg/ml for RD. The lowest IC50 is attributed to chitosan, 300 μg/ml in Hep2 and 190 μg/ml in RD.
Keywords: Biopolymers; Chitin; Chitosan; Cytotoxicity; Enzymatic hydrolysis.