Study on the Physicochemical Properties of Chitosan and their Applications in the Biomedical Sector

Abstract

Chitosan is a natural polymer derived from the deacetylation of chitin. It is mainly derived from crustaceans and fungal sources. It has many intrinsic properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, cationic nature, and nontoxicity. These features of chitosan have made it an attractive material for various applications. Furthermore, these unique properties have found significant biomedical applications, such as in drug delivery, tissue engineering, antimicrobial agent, and wound healing. However, it has its drawbacks, such as the raw material source being seasonal and localized, the extraction procedure being time-consuming, costly, and involving the use of harsh chemicals in substantial amounts, and the quality of chitosan obtained from marine sources being variable. Furthermore, studies are needed to increase the yield and utilization of chitosan for various industrial purposes. Technological improvements, such as gene modification will enhance the yield and application of chitosan. This review focuses primarily on the numerous applications of chitosan in the biomedical field, including tissue engineering, wound dressing, drug delivery, and others.