Chitosan, a drug carrier for the 21st century: a review

Chitosan, a polysaccharide with structural characteristics similar to glyco samino glycan, was studied for various biomedical applications including me mbranes in hemodialysis, artificial skin or bioactive wound dressings, as a n excipient in drug delivery systems as a matrix in perfusion columns and a s a material possessing hemostatic potential to promote nerve growth. Chito san is, in fact, prescribed for obesity since it is an excellent fat binder . With these multiple applications, chitosan - a biodegradable and naturall y available material - will emerge as a household name and as an important biomedical material of the 21(st) century. In this paper, we aim to present the various drug delivery applications of this interesting biopolymer.