Emerging trends in chitosan based colloidal drug delivery systems: A translational journey from research to practice

Abstract

Chitosan, a natural polymer derived from chitin, has garnered significant interest in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications due to its distinctive properties, such as controlled drug release, mucoadhesive capabilities, in situ gelling property, enhancement of permeation, and efflux pump inhibitory effect. In this review, various types of chitosan based colloidal drug delivery systems such as vesicular, and particulate systems were discussed along with their role in pre-clinical biomedical applications. Some important clinical applications of chitosan-based drug delivery systems in treating major chronic diseases were also discussed. Using Chitosan in delivery of drugs and gene therapy had many beneficial outcomes, however, obtaining clinical acceptance and regulatory approval requires a careful approach for proving efficacy and safety. In order to present the current status of chitosan-based drug delivery systems, filled patents employing chitosan derivatives were also part of this review. This will help forward the use of chitosan-based drug delivery system from research to practice. Finally, the future prospects for chitosan-based delivery systems were discussed.