Recent advances in carboxymethyl chitosan-based materials for biomedical applications

Chitosan (CS) and its derivatives have been applied extensively in the biomedical field owing to advantageous characteristics including biodegradability, biocompatibility, antibacterial activity and adhesive properties. The low solubility of CS at physiological pH limits its use in systems requiring higher dissolving ability and a suitable drug release rate. Besides, CS can result in fast drug release because of its high swelling degree and rapid water absorption in aqueous media. As a water-soluble derivative of CS, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) has certain improved properties, rendering it a more suitable candidate for wound healing, drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. This review will focus on the antibacterial, anticancer and antitumor, antioxidant and antifungal bioactivities of CMC and the most recently described applications of CMC in wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioimaging and cosmetics.

Automated summary

Chitosan and its derivatives have been widely used in the biomedical field due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and adhesive properties. However, the low solubility of chitosan at physiological pH limits its applications in systems requiring higher dissolving ability and suitable drug release rates. Carboxymethyl chitosan, as a water-soluble derivative, shows improved properties and is more suitable for wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering applications. This review focuses on the bioactivities of carboxymethyl chitosan, including antibacterial, anticancer, antitumor, antioxidant, and antifungal effects, as well as its recent applications in wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, bioimaging, and cosmetics.