Modified carbohydrate-chitosan compounds, methods of making the same and methods of using the same

A composition of matter, comprising:

• chitosan;
• and
• a modified carbohydrate, wherein the modified carbohydrate has been modified so as to have an increased carboxyl content as compared to an unmodified counterpart carbohydrate, and wherein a carboxyl group of the modified carbohydrate is covalently bonded with an amino group of the chitosan, and wherein the modified carbohydrate comprises hemicellulose and the hemicellulose has a carboxyl content of greater than 352 mequ/100 grams.

A composition of matter, comprising:

• chitosan;
• and
• a modified carbohydrate, wherein the modified carbohydrate has been modified so as to have an increased carboxyl content as compared to an unmodified counterpart carbohydrate, and wherein a carboxyl group of the modified carbohydrate is covalently bonded with an amino group of the chitosan, and wherein the modified carbohydrate comprises starch and the starch has a carboxyl content of about 180 mequ/100 grams or greater.

A composition of matter, comprising:

• chitosan;
• and
• a modified carbohydrate, wherein the modified carbohydrate has been modified so as to have an increased carboxyl content as compared to an unmodified counterpart carbohydrate, and wherein a carboxyl group of the modified carbohydrate is covalently bonded with an amino group of the chitosan, wherein the composition of matter comprises a cross linked modified carbohydrate-chitosan compound, and wherein the modified carbohydrate has a degree of esterification of 17% or greater.