CHITOSAN: UNCOVERING THE TRUE POTENTIAL OF A VERSATILE POLYMER

*Salman Shaikh and Dr. Geeta Bhagwat

ABSTRACT

Chitin and its deacetylated derivative chitosan are natural polymers made up of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and randomly dispersed -(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) (acetylated unit). Biopolymers like chitin and chitosan have a variety of characteristics that allow them to be used in a variety of fields, including biomedical science. The most recent breakthroughs in biomedical research include major new trends in mucoadhesive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, antihyperglycemic, antitumor, and wound-healing products. Chitin and chitosan are biocompatible materials that can be utilised in medical devices to cure, augment, or replace any bodily tissue, organ, or function. A rising number of work suggests that chitosan and its derivatives are attractive possibilities for tissue engineering support materials. This review article focuses on current research on chitin and chitosan in relation to its use in a variety of domains, including mucoadhesive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, antihyperglycemic, antitumor, and wound-healing properties.

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