7 - Controlling chitosan degradation properties in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Among the many advantages of chitosan as an implant biomaterial, is controllable degradability, which makes chitosan a unique biomaterial choice for tissue engineering and drug delivery devices. Degradation of chitosan implants in vivo occurs over the course of days to months, depending on the type of chitosan implant. Many years of research into chitosan both in vitro and in vivo has highlighted important, the relationship between chitosan degradation and material properties such as molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, and fabrication methods. Biological mechanisms for chitosan degradation, biomaterials design considerations, and research into modification of degradation profile are presented, as well as commonly used methods to measure degradation.