CHITOSAN - PROPERTIES, PREPARATIONS AND APPLICATION TO MICROPARTICULATE SYSTEMS

Chitosan, a hydrophilic biopolymer, is obtained industrially by hydrol ysing the aminoacetyl groups of chitin. It is a natural, non-toxic, bi odegradable polysaccharide available as solution, flake, fine powder, bead and fibre. The sources, biochemical aspects, structure and chemic al modification, physico-chemical and functional properties, and appli cations of chitosan have been investigated extensively in the literatu re. In this paper, the attractive properties and broad applications of chitosan-based microparticles, their versatile properties, different preparation methods, and pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical applicat ions are reviewed.