Chitosan: Hydrossoluble derivatives, pharmaceutical applications and recent advances

Abstract

Chitin and chitosan are copolymers build from N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucosamine. The former is widely found in nature and yields the latter on deacetylation. The copolymers are being used for several purposes. Since 1977, when the First International Conference on Chitin and Chitosan was held in Boston, USA, the interest on chitin and chitosan has remarkably increased. This review emphasizes pharmaceutical applications of chitosan and its derivatives, and presents recent advances. Some therapeutical applications of these polymers are also discussed.