Current status and prospects of chitosan: Metal nanoparticles and their applications as nanotheranostic agents

Abstract

Nanotheranostic is an approach to merge nanotechnology, therapeutics, and diagnosis for the betterment of mankind. Chitosan is a natural polysaccharide procured from chitin, which has a great impact as carrier of drug materials. Chitosan-gold nanoparticles have been applied in carcinoma, detection of solid tumors, prostate cancer, glucose, amplified nucleic acid, cancer cell imaging, etc. Chitosan-silver nanoparticles have also been used for inhibition of bacterial growth, tissue regeneration process, wound healing process, etc. Technetium-radiolabeled chitosan nanoparticles have directly been used to study the biodistribution of molecule, specialized delivery system as nose to brain, etc. This chapter mainly emphasizes on the nanotheranostic applications of chitosan-gold/silver or technetium-radiolabeled chitosan nanoparticles.