Emerging Biomedical Applications of Nano-Chitins and Nano-Chitosans Obtained via Advanced Eco-Friendly Technologies from Marine Resources

Abstract

The present review article is intended to direct attention to the technological advances made in the 2010–2014 quinquennium for the isolation and manufacture of nanofibrillar chitin and chitosan. Otherwise called nanocrystals or whiskers, n-chitin and n-chitosan are obtained either by mechanical chitin disassembly and fibrillation optionally assisted by sonication, or by e-spinning of solutions of polysaccharides often accompanied by poly(ethylene oxide) or poly(caprolactone). The biomedical areas where n-chitin may find applications include hemostasis and wound healing, regeneration of tissues such as joints and bones, cell culture, antimicrobial agents, and dermal protection. The biomedical applications of n-chitosan include epithelial tissue regeneration, bone and dental tissue regeneration, as well as protection against bacteria, fungi and viruses. It has been found that the nano size enhances the performances of chitins and chitosans in all cases considered, with no exceptions. Biotechnological approaches will boost the applications of the said safe, eco-friendly and benign nanomaterials not only in these fields, but also for biosensors and in targeted drug delivery areas.

Poriferan Chitin as a Versatile Template for Extreme Biomimetics

“…It has also been identified that the unit cell in β-chitin is monoclinic [89,90], and adjacent sheets along the c axis have the same direction. It should be noted that in this polymorph we observe a lack of hydrogen bonds along the b axis, which make it more susceptible for intra-crystalline water swelling in comparison to α-chitin [91,92]. The swelling phenomenon takes place without destruction of the initial microfibrillar morphology, which can be recovered after removal of the intra-crystalline quest molecules [93].…”

Chitosan–tripolyphosphate nanoparticles as Arrabidaea chica standardized extract carrier: synthesis, characterization, biocompatibility, and antiulcerogenic activity

“…12,13 The biomedical applications of CS include epithelial, bone, and dental tissue regeneration, wound dressing, drug delivery, as well as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties. [14][15][16][17] There is strong evidence of CS nanocarrier potential for many challenging drug delivery applications. Moreover, there is also indicative data regarding CS biocompatibility, which further supports the potential use in nanomedicine.…”

Nanomaterials, Scaffolds, and Skin Tissue Regeneration

“…The same procedure in which carboxymethyl chitin was used instead of carboxyethyl chitosan, and in which crosslinking with glutaraldehyde was applied, yielded mats usable in tissue engineering applications [ 28 ]. Preformed nanostructured chitin mats can be deacetylated becoming nanochitosan mats with practically the same morphology, hemostatic effect, and antimicrobial action which makes them good candidates for wound healing/dressing applications [ 20 ]. Electrospun mats made of chitin fi bers (diameters 223-966 nm) reinforced with chitin crystals and further crosslinked with genipin (it imparts stability over time to the composite structure) showed good mechanical properties, recommending them for use in wound dressings.…”

“…9 ) it formed polyelectrolyte complexes which were electrospun and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Scaffolds obtained through this procedure enhanced cell attachment and proliferation [ 20 ]. Another nanostructure obtained from the same two species, electrospun chitosan mats coated with collagen, showed promise for skin regeneration [ 21 ], while curcumin loaded on the same type of mats was evaluated for wound healing [ 22 ].…”