Glycol chitosan polymer (GC)

Glycol chitosan polymer is a water-soluble chitosan derivative created by introducing hydrophilic glycol branches (via reaction with ethylene oxide). This modification leads to improved aqueous solubility and enables formation of hydrogels, nanoparticles, and other functional biomaterials. Glycol chitosan polymers feature reactive amine and hydroxyl groups, facilitating further chemical modifications—such as grafting hydrophobic molecules or targeting moieties—to tune their biophysical and delivery properties. GC is primarily used as a drug carrier, imaging agent matrix, or scaffold material. It is not a "drug target" itself but serves to enhance the delivery, stability, and effectiveness of bioactive agents in biomedical applications[6][5][2].

Other names

Glycol chitosanGCethylene glycol–modified chitosan

Encapsulation and release, not molecular targeting; releases bioactive compounds through controlled degradation and diffusion