Recent advances in carboxymethyl chitosan-based materials for biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Chitosan (CS) possesses beneficial biomedical properties like biodegradability and antibacterial activity.
• Limited solubility of CS at physiological pH and rapid drug release hinder its therapeutic applications.
• Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) is a water-soluble derivative with enhanced properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diverse bioactivities of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC).
• To explore recent applications of CMC in various biomedical fields.
• To highlight CMC as a promising biomaterial for advanced therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications on carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC).
• Analysis of studies detailing CMC's bioactivities and applications.
• Synthesis of information on CMC's role in wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioimaging, and cosmetics.

Main Results:

• CMC exhibits significant antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, and antifungal activities.
• CMC demonstrates enhanced suitability for wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering compared to CS.
• Emerging applications of CMC in bioimaging and cosmetics are identified.

Conclusions:

• Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) is a versatile biomaterial with broad therapeutic potential.
• CMC's improved solubility and tunable properties make it superior to chitosan for many biomedical uses.
• Further research into CMC applications promises advancements in regenerative medicine and drug delivery systems.