CHITOSAN AS VERSATILE CARRIER IN DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Abstract

Chitosan is a strong, biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic linear polysaccharide that can be used in a various pharmaceutical drug delivery application. Chitosan possesses special physicochemical and biological properties that are necessary for the development of safe and effective drug delivery systems. Chelation is one of chitosan's most useful characteristics. It can selectively bind to specific substances, including protein, tumour cells, metal ions, lipids, and cholesterol. Additionally, because it is biodegradable by nature, it does not result with allergic responses or rejection. The human body entirely produces armless product during metabolism. Since chitosan is an effective cationic polymer for membrane synthesis, it can also be used to create artificial kidney membranes. In addition to these properties, it has a number of medicinal uses, including analgesic, hypo-cholesterolemic, hemostatic antitumor, anti-oxidant spermicidal, CNS depressant, immune adjuvant properties, antacid, antiulcer activities, wound and burn healing action, and has been found to be suitable for immobilizing enzymes and living cells in ophthalmology. The development of nasal, vaginal, ophthalmic, transdermal & topical, buccal, parenteral, colon-specific, and implantable drug delivery systems are important uses of chitosan in the pharmaceutical field. The crucial factors of purity, degree of acetylation, viscosity, and molecular weight should be taken into account while selecting chitosan for targeted drug delivery.. Drug delivery systems made of chitosan nanoparticles, microspheres, and beads are commonly used. Chitosan microspheres are used to deliver a variety of drugs with controlled release, to improve the bioavailability of substances that degrade readily, like protein, or to enhance the uptake of hydrophilic substances via epithelial layers.. Targeted medication delivery employs magnetic chitosan microspheres so that drugs are kept at target site while being affected by an external magnetic field. Due to its abilities to increase absorption and penetration, chitosan has been also utilized for the oral delivery of genes and peptides.