Chitosan nanocomposites based on distinct inorganic fillers for biomedical applications

• Published in: Science and technology of advanced materials Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 626 - 643
• Main Authors: Moura, Duarte, Mano, João F., Paiva, Maria C., Alves, Natália M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.01.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: 101 Self-assembly / Self-organized materials; 102 Porous / Nanoporous / Nanostructured materials; 103 Composites; 104 Carbon and related materials; 20 Organic and soft materials (colloids; 211 Scaffold / Tissue engineering / Drug delivery; 212 Surface and interfaces; 306 Thin film / Coatings; Biocompatibility; Biodegradability; biomedical applications; Biomedical materials; Chitosan; Drug delivery systems; Fillers; gel; liquid crystals; Mechanical properties; Nanocomposites; Organic and Soft Materials (Colloids, Liquid Crystals, Gel, Polymers); polymer nanocomposites; polymers; Polysaccharides; Regeneration (physiology); Wound healing; 306 Thin film / Coatings; polymer nanocomposites; 212 Surface and interfaces; 20 Organic and soft materials (colloids; 102 Porous / Nanoporous / Nanostructured materials; gel; 103 Composites; 101 Self-assembly / Self-organized materials; biomedical applications; 104 Carbon and related materials; Chitosan; liquid crystals; polymers; 211 Scaffold / Tissue engineering / Drug delivery
• ISSN: 1468-6996; 1878-5514
• DOI: 10.1080/14686996.2016.1229104

Chitosan (CHI), a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide with the ability to provide a non-protein matrix for tissue growth, is considered to be an ideal material in the biomedical field. However, the lack of good mechanical properties limits its applications. In order to overcome this drawback, CHI has been combined with different polymers and fillers, leading to a variety of chitosan-based nanocomposites. The extensive research on CHI nanocomposites as well as their main biomedical applications are reviewed in this paper. An overview of the different fillers and assembly techniques available to produce CHI nanocomposites is presented. Finally, the properties of such nanocomposites are discussed with particular focus on bone regeneration, drug delivery, wound healing and biosensing applications.