Chitosan and Its Pharmaceutical Applications

Abstract

Chitosan is a prospective cationic polysaccharide which shows a number of functions in many fields, including biomedicinal, pharmaceutical, preservation, microbial and others. In this review, we have summarized three main areas of its biomedicinal applications due to its antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. The applications are influenced by a number of factors such as its polymerization degree, the degree of chitin deacetylation and some other physicochemical properties. The biodegradable, non-toxic and non-allergenic nature of chitosan suggests its use as a carrier in drug delivery systems.