Biomaterials based on chitin and chitosan in wound dressing applications

• Published in: Biotechnology advances Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 322 - 337
• Main Authors: Jayakumar, R., Prabaharan, M., Sudheesh Kumar, P.T., Nair, S.V., Tamura, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Inc 01-05-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bandages; biocompatible materials; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Carbohydrate Sequence; Chitin; Chitosan; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hydrocolloids; Hydrogels; Membranes; Membranes, Artificial; Molecular Sequence Data; Nanofibers; oxygen; permeability; Scaffolds; Sponges; Wound dressing; Wounds and Injuries - therapy; Membranes; Hydrogels; Chitin; Sponges; Wound dressing; Chitosan; Nanofibers; Scaffolds; Biomaterial; Application; Wound
• ISSN: 0734-9750; 1873-1899
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2011.01.005

Wound dressing is one of the most promising medical applications for chitin and chitosan. The adhesive nature of chitin and chitosan, together with their antifungal and bactericidal character, and their permeability to oxygen, is a very important property associated with the treatment of wounds and burns. Different derivatives of chitin and chitosan have been prepared for this purpose in the form of hydrogels, fibers, membranes, scaffolds and sponges. The purpose of this review is to take a closer look on the wound dressing applications of biomaterials based on chitin, chitosan and their derivatives in various forms in detail.