Abstract
Chitosan has emerged as a biodegradable, nontoxic polymer with multiple beneficial applications in the agricultural and biomedical sectors. As nanotechnology has evolved as a promising field, researchers have incorporated chitosan-based nanomaterials in a variety of products to enhance their efficacy and biocompatibility. Moreover, due to its inherent antimicrobial and chelating properties, and the availability of modifiable functional groups, chitosan nanoparticles were also directly used in a variety of applications. In this review, the use of chitosan-based nanomaterials in agricultural and biomedical fields related to the management of abiotic stress in plants, water availability for crops, controlling foodborne pathogens, and cancer photothermal therapy is discussed, with some insights into the possible mechanisms of action. Additionally, the toxicity arising from the accumulation of these nanomaterials in biological systems and future research avenues that had gained limited attention from the scientific community are discussed here. Overall, chitosan-based nanomaterials show promising characteristics for sustainable agricultural practices and effective healthcare in an eco-friendly manner.
Highlights
In the realm of climate change, increasing population, and the decrease in the land that can be cultivated, agriculture and health systems are facing numerous challenges
The usage of nontoxic, biodegradable polymer systems like chitosan for the progress of the agricultural and biomedical fields is beneficial for the society and the ecosystem
Renewable chitosan nanoparticles used as a bioflocculant and a heavy metal adsorbent demonstrate better or compatible performance in industrial or agricultural wastewater treatments
Summary
In the realm of climate change, increasing population, and the decrease in the land that can be cultivated, agriculture and health systems are facing numerous challenges. Nanotechnology can play an essential role in addressing these issues by promoting enhanced crop production, optimum usage of the land, and the creation of advanced drugs. The nanoparticle size should be optimized based on the intended application to minimize toxic side effects, as discussed under Section 4 of this review. Nanoparticles engineered from chitosan and its derivatives can be indispensable in addressing issues related to feeding the increasing population and improving healthcare. Chitosan is a linear copolymer with D–glucosamine and N–acetyl-D–glucosamine units joined via β–(1–4) glycosidic bonds (Figure 1) and has been extensively used for the production of nanoparticles by researchers, as reviewed in this article. Chitosan has been popular due to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and chelating properties, together with its nontoxic and biocompatible nature [1]. FaunndgaSl amccyhcaerloimumyceosf cAerlleovmisyiacees[8a]r.buFsucnuglaa,lMmuyccoerlgiuenmevoefnsAisl,loTmraynceetsesarvbeursscicuollao,r,Manudcotrhgeenfreuvietninsigs,bTordayneotfes Avgearrsiiccuoslobri,spaonrdusthweerferuailtsinogutbiloizdeydoafsAmgoarreiccuossbt-iespffoercutsivwe aernedarlesnoewutailbizleedsoausrcmesofroerccohsitt-ienffceocmtivpearaendd torecnruewstaacbeleansosuherclless[9fo].r Achpiteinst caottmacpkairnegdatgoriccruulstutarcaelacnrospheinllsM[9ex].icAo panesdt CatetnactrkailnAgmagerriiccua,ltSucrhailstcorcoeprcain piMceeifxriocnos apnicdeifCroennstr(aOl rAthmopertiecraa,: SAchcrisitdoicdearcea) hpiacseiafrlosnosbpeiecneifurosends (fOorrtthhoepstuecrcae: sAsfcurildeixdtarae)cthioans oalfscohbiteinen anudsecdhfiotorstahne astu1c1ce.8s8s%fulaenxdtr9a.c1t1io%nyoifecldh,itrienspanecdticvheiltyos[a1n0]a. tT1h1e.8se8%soaunrcde9s.u11n%deyrigeoldd,ermesipneecrtaivliezlayti[o1n0,]. dTephreosetesionuizracteisoun,nadnedrgdoedceomloirnizearatiloiznattioonp,roddepurcoetecihniitzina,tiaonnd, aint disdceocnovloerrtizeadtitooncthoitporsoadnuvcieacdhiifftienr,eanntd chiteims iccoanlvaenrdteedntzoymchaittiocsadneavcieatydliaftfieornenmt echtheomdiscaalsadnedscernibzeydmbaytiSchdaenamceutyglaantiaothnamneetthaold. s(Faisgudreesc1r)i.bed by Shanmuganathan et al (Figure 1)
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