Applications Of Chitosan Based Bionanocomposites In Drug-Delivery And Anticancer Treatment-A Review

Chitosan is an excellent biopolymer, widely used in drug delivery. Chitosan is a bio-compatible and biodegradable polysaccharide that is derived from chitin. It can be used in combination with several nanomaterials to create bionanocomposites that have improved physical and chemical properties. Chitosan bionanocomposites are quickly becoming a promising option for drug delivery applications. These bionanocomposites offer various drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, films, and scaffolds. These systems can be customized to suit different types of drugs, ranging from small molecules to proteins or genetic materials. This article is an effort to explore the role of chitosan in various drug delivery systems and in anti-cancer treatment. We have reviewed the research carried out on silver, gold, copper, iron, zinc and lanthanides in the synthesis of chitosan-metal bionanocomposites. Research on the applications of chitosan based bionanocomposites used previously in transdermal, nasal, oral, buccal, ocular and topical drug delivery systems has also been reviewed. We have also focused on antibacterial properties of chitosan bionanocomposites and the role of chitosan bionanocomposites in anti-cancer targeted drug-delivery.