Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles in Tissue Regeneration

Chitosan is a unique polymer owing to its cationic property that allows interactions with various biological entities and is subsequently produced into novel functional products for biomedical applications, including tissue regeneration. Its cationic nature is conferred by amino groups present in its structure that are also responsible for various properties, including antibacterial activity. Chitosan is a biomaterial that has been extensively used in tissue engineering due to its ability to facilitate three-dimensional (3D) cell growth and proliferation as well as organize the deposition of collagen, the important processes in wound healing. Moreover, chitosan is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, making it an outstanding material for tissue engineering applications. Besides, chitosan possesses biological or pharmacological activities such as hemostatic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiinflammatory, further expanding its biomedical applications. In tissue engineering, chitosan has been developed as scaffolds in the form of membranes, sponges, nanofibers, and hydrogels for treating various tissue damages. They are used to provide a suitable environment for supporting the growth of cells. In combination with nanotechnology, chitosan is converted into nanoparticles that possess unique properties and hence, they have been utilised in wound healing, cartilage, and bone regeneration. This chapter highlights the roles of chitosan-based nanoparticles in tissue regeneration along with their recent developments.