Pharmaceutical Uses of Chitosan in the Medical Field

Abstract

Two of the considerably versatile and promising biomaterials are chitin and chitosan. Chitin is known to be the most abundant natural amino mucopolysaccharide, produced annually almost as much as cellulose, and it is found in the structure of a wide number of intervertebrates ( crustaceans’ exoskeleton, insects’ cuticles) functioning as a structural component that provides strenght and protection to the organisms, and the cell walls of fungi, among others. On the other hand, chitosan only occurs naturally in some fungi (mucoraceae). The composition of chitin is based on ?(1à4)-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-?-D-glucose (N-acetylglucosamine). Due to their natural origin, both chitin and chitosan are defined as a family of polymers which present a high variability in their chemical and biological properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, mucoadhesion, anticholesterolemic, antitumoral, hemostatic and antimicrobial effect. These characteristics of chitin and chitosan have a major influence on the their properties and depending on the DD (degree of dezacetilation) and Mw (molecular weight), they are used in a variety of medical applications such ascosmetics, artificial skin, wound-dressings, water engeneering, opthalmology, drug-delivery system. The aim of this review is to highlight the physicochemical properties of chitin and chitosan used in the wound healing process.It is known that in the last years, the number of pacients suffering from wounds and burns difficult to treat and heal has increased. During the wound healing process, the dressing protects the injury and contributes to the recovery of dermal and epidermal tissues. Due to their high biocompatibility, biodegradability and similarity to the human body macromolecules these natural polysacharides (chitin and chitosan) are extensively used in wounds and burns management.