A review on chitosan-based biomaterial as carrier in tissue engineering and medical applications

Recently, chitosan-based biomaterials as carriers are favored by tissue and medical engineering researchers for their excellent physical, chemical and biological properties in promoting cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. The main chain of chitosan is rich in free amino groups, which can be chemically and physically modified to enhance the different properties of carriers, providing more choices for tissue and medical engineering. The research on chitosan-based scaffolds in different tissues of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has not been fully introduced. Its degradation products will not accumulate in the body, and are non-toxic and immunogenic. They have the functions of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, reducing wound exudation and promoting wound tissue regeneration, repair and healing. At the same time, they can properly stimulate the corresponding functions of the body in specific applications, and will not cause adverse reactions such as inflammation to the human body. Here, the latest progress of chitosan-based biomaterials in the repair and regeneration of different tissues or organs in recent years were reviewed, including the advantages, shortcomings and bottlenecks. It is helpful to puts forward the challenges and prospects for the rapid development of chitosan-based biomaterials in tissue and medical engineering.