Chitosan, a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide derived from chitin, has surfaced as a material of promise for drug delivery and biomedical applications. Different chitin and chitosan extraction techniques can produce materials with unique properties, which can be further modified to enhance their bioactivities. Chitosan-based drug delivery systems have been developed for various routes of administration, including oral, ophthalmic, transdermal, nasal, and vaginal, allowing for targeted and sustained release of drugs. Additionally, chitosan has been used in numerous biomedical applications, such as bone regeneration, cartilage tissue regeneration, cardiac tissue regeneration, corneal regeneration, periodontal tissue regeneration, and wound healing. Moreover, chitosan has also been utilized in gene delivery, bioimaging, vaccination, and cosmeceutical applications. Modified chitosan derivatives have been developed to improve their biocompatibility and enhance their properties, resulting in innovative materials with promising potentials in various biomedical applications. This article summarizes the recent findings on chitosan and its application in drug delivery and biomedical science.
Globally, diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the foremost cause of end-stage renal disease. With the incidence of diabetes increasing day by day, DN's occurrence is expected to surge to pandemic proportions. Current available therapeutic interventions associated with DN emphasize blood pressure, glycemia and lipid control while ignoring DN's progression mechanism at a molecular level. This review sheds light on the molecular insights involved in DN to help understand the initiation and progression pattern. Further, we summarize novel strategies with reported applications in developing a nanomedicine-based platform for DN-targeted drug delivery to improve drug efficacy and safety.
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