Chitin, Chitosan and Chitosan oligosaccharides-based Biomaterials: A Comprehensive Review on Biomedical Applications

The use of chitin, chitosan, and Chitooligosaccharides (COS) has advanced rapidly in recent years due to their exceptional physicochemical and biological characteristics. Because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and functional flexibility, chitin and chitosan have attracted significant interest from the biomedical, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, culinary, and cosmetic sectors. Tissue engineering, wound healing, medication delivery, and the creation of bioactive substances with antibacterial and antiinflammatory properties are among their uses. When compared to their parent polymers, chitooligosaccharides- low-molecular-weight derivatives of chitosan with a degree of polymerization below 20-show better biological activity and water solubility. Numerous pharmacological benefits, including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and anti-aging properties, are demonstrated by COS. Although preclinical research presently provides the majority of the data, these bioactivities make COS attractive candidates for treatments in a variety of disorders. Chemical processes that are frequently toxic to the environment and challenging to regulate with respect to polymerization and acetylation levels have historically been used to produce chitosan and COS. In order to produce well-defined products with enhanced functional properties, recent research has concentrated on enzymatic methods utilizing chitinases, chitosanases, and chitin deacetylases. This review emphasizes recent advancements in our understanding of the structural, physicochemical, and bioactive aspects of chitin-based derivatives and discusses both traditional and novel synthesis methods. Additionally, it highlights the necessity for further in vivo and translational research to fully realize the therapeutic potential of chitosan-based bioactive molecules by examining their creative uses in a variety of fields.