Chitosan

Abstract

Chitosan is a linear copolymer of D-glucosamine and N-acetyl D-glucosamine in a β-(1-4) linkage, in which glucosamine is the predominant repeating unit. It is easily processed into films, 3D-scaffolds, nanofibers, and nanoparticles. It forms polyelectrolyte complexes with polysacharides, polyamino acids, proteins, and glycosoaminoglycans (GAGs). Its degree of acetylation influences many properties, including ability to support cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation, inflammatory response, and degradation rate. Its structural similarity with GAGs, which are constituents of the extracellular matrix (ECM), makes it a natural candidate for being a component of ECM-like matrices used for tissue repair/regeneration.