Potential Applications of Chitosan and Chitosan-Based Materials in Farm Animal Reproductive Management: Direct and Indirect Implications

Abstract

Chitosan (CH) is a natural biopolymer obtained from the deacetylation process of chitin found in the exoskeleton of crustaceans. Recently, CH has been used as a multifunctional molecule in farm animal health, production, and reproduction. CH has an exceptional chemical structure and physicochemical properties that confer valuable properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, immune modulation, mucoadhesion, and controlled release capabilities. These properties enable CH to be formulated in various forms, including raw CH, chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs), microparticles, nanoparticles (NPs), solutions, gels, and films, thereby expanding its applicability for improving fertility and enhancing reproductive performance in farm animals. Several reports have described various applications of CH and CH-based materials in animal reproduction, including dietary supplementation, sperm preservation, in vitro embryo production (IVEP), treatment of uterine infections such as metritis/endometritis, and integration into synchronization protocols as a hormone delivery system. Therefore, this review outlines the potential applications of CH and CH-based materials to improve reproductive performance in farm animals through both direct and indirect mechanisms.