Chitosan: Applications in Drug Delivery System

Mini Rev Med Chem. 2023;23(2):187-191. doi: 10.2174/1389557522666220609102010.

Abstract

Chitin and chitosan have unique structures with significant functional groups carrying useful chemical capabilities. Chitin and chitosan are acknowledged as novel biomaterials with advantageous biocompatibility and biodegradability. Chitosan is a polysaccharide that is made from chitin. There have been several attempts to employ this biopolymer in the biomedical area. This material's application in the production of artificial skin, drug targeting, and other areas is explored. The most prevalent strategies for recovering chitin from sea organisms are described and various pharmacological and biological uses are discussed. This review article targets drug delivery with the help of chitosan derived nanomaterial. The drug delivery system applications through nonmaterial have encountered a considerable role in the pharmaceutical, medical, biological, and other sectors in recent years. Nanomaterials have advanced applications as novel drug delivery systems in many fields, especially in industry, biology, and medicine. In the biomedical and pharmaceutical arena, the natural polymer-based nanoparticulate method has now been widely studied as particulate vehicles. By mixing alginate with other biopolymers, by immobilizing specific molecules such as sugar molecules and peptides by chemical or physical cross-linking, different properties and structures such as biodegradability, gelling properties, mechanical strength, and cell affinity can be obtained. Owing to their inherent ability to deliver both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drug molecules, increase stability, decrease toxicity, and enhance commonly formulated medications, these particles are now widely used in imaging and molecular diagnostics, cosmetics, household chemicals, sunscreens, radiation safety, and novel drug delivery.

Keywords: Biopolymers; biological properties; nanomaterials; nanotoxicity; pharmaceutical nanotechnology; physicochemical properties; toxicological effect.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Chitin / chemistry
  • Chitosan* / chemistry
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations

Substances

  • Chitosan
  • Chitin
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations