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Chitosan as a machine for biomolecule delivery: A review
Zohreh Mohammadi1, Maryam Eini2, Ali Rastegari1
1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Carbohydrate Polymers
|January 23, 2021
Summary
Chitosan, a versatile biopolymer, shows promise for delivering therapeutic biomolecules like proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids. This review explores its properties, applications, and challenges in developing effective drug delivery systems.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Biomolecules are crucial for treating diseases, but effective delivery remains a challenge.
- Polymeric vehicles are essential for protecting and delivering biomolecules to target sites.
- Chitosan is a unique biopolymer widely utilized for its versatile properties in biomolecule delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the properties of chitosan as a biomolecule delivery vehicle.
- To discuss the application of chitosan in delivering proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and vaccines.
- To explore ligand conjugation for targeted delivery and current challenges in chitosan-based delivery systems.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of chitosan-based biomolecule delivery systems.
- Analysis of chitosan's properties and functionalization strategies.
- Evaluation of targeting approaches and challenges in preclinical and clinical applications.
Main Results:
- Chitosan exhibits unique properties making it suitable for diverse biomolecule delivery.
- Successful applications of chitosan in delivering proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and vaccines are documented.
- Ligand conjugation enhances chitosan's targeting efficiency for specific cells or tissues.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan is a highly promising biomaterial for advanced drug delivery systems.
- Further research is needed to overcome challenges in developing clinically viable chitosan-based therapeutics.
- Targeted delivery strategies using chitosan hold significant potential for improving therapeutic outcomes.
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