Chitosan

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed β-(1→4)-linked D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units, produced by the partial deacetylation of chitin—a biopolymer abundantly found in the shells of crustaceans and in fungal cell walls. Chitosan is the second most abundant natural polysaccharide after cellulose and is characterized by its biodegradability, biocompatibility, mucoadhesion, nontoxicity, and polycationic nature in acidic environments. It is widely used in medicine, agriculture, food, and industry, primarily as a biomaterial for wound healing, drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering, and antimicrobial applications. Chitosan provides enhanced properties compared to its precursor, chitin, due to the presence of free amino groups which enable chemical modification and broad functionalization. Despite its extensive biomedical use, chitosan is not a receptor, enzyme, transporter, or therapeutic molecular target, but rather a biomaterial and carrier; thus, it is not considered a therapeutic 'target' in the classical sense.

Other names

Poliglusamβ-(1→4)-linked D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine polymerdeacetylated chitin