Abstract
Chitosan is the only pseudonatural cationic biopolymer and its unique properties have led to its use in diverse industries. Currently, the chitosan is sourced from crustacean wastes but the increase in the demand for the polymer is bound to lead to overexploitation. Moreover, the production of chitosan from the shell waste produces large quantities of harmful effluents. Hence, fungal chitosan provides an attractive alternative, and in addition the recent emphasis on green synthesis for sustainable development has necessitated the adoption of alternate sources of chitosan. The presence of chitosan in fungi had been identified decades ago and has been investigated extensively at the laboratory scale but commercial production has not happened. In recent years, a few companies have started commercial production and provide nonanimal sourced chitosan. The review here discusses the benefits, prospects, avenues, and challenges of commercial fungal chitosan production. Additionally, the review also discusses green chitosan extraction strategies that have been investigated as an alternative to the current high-temperature chemical extraction.
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