hydroxybutyl chitosan

Hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC) is a chemically modified derivative of chitosan, a natural polysaccharide obtained from the shells of crustaceans. The modification involves grafting hydroxybutyl groups onto the chitosan backbone, which significantly improves its water solubility under neutral conditions and imparts thermosensitive properties. HBC can form hydrogels that undergo sol–gel transitions in response to temperature changes, making it suitable for various biomedical applications. Its primary uses include serving as a drug delivery carrier (for small molecules like glimepiride and 5-fluorouracil), gene delivery vector (notably for siRNA), wound healing material, tissue engineering scaffold, and co-delivery matrix for combination therapies. Mechanistically, HBC acts as an excipient or platform rather than exerting direct pharmacological effects; it enables sustained release and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents by forming biocompatible matrices or nanoparticles[2][3][4][9]. It has been investigated in preclinical studies for diabetes management (as an implantable drug depot), keloid inhibition (as a co-delivery system with anti-fibrotic drugs), cardiovascular disease gene therapy (siRNA targeting tissue factor), ophthalmic surgery adjuncts, and general wound healing[1][2][3][4][5].

Other names

hydroxybutyl chitosanHBC