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Volume 31
Issue 8
10.3390/molecules31081273
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Review

Chitosan Derivatives: Challenges and Opportunities in the Green and Sustainable Transition Era

by
Ana Morais
1,2,
Rita Lima
1,2,
Madalena M. M. Pinto
1,2,
Maria Elizabeth Tiritan
1,2,3 and
Carla Fernandes
1,2,*
1
Laboratório de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
2
CIIMAR/CIMAR LA—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
3
1H-TOXRUN—One Health Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU—CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2026, 31(8), 1273; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081273
Submission received: 10 March 2026 / Revised: 7 April 2026 / Accepted: 9 April 2026 / Published: 13 April 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymers for Drug Delivery Systems)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Transition towards sustainable and environmentally friendly practices within the field of chemistry and materials science has become essential in light of current environmental challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in the various steps involved in producing chitosan derivatives, with particular emphasis on eco-friendly strategies. Key methodologies for chitin isolation from diverse natural sources, chitin deacetylation, and the chemical modification of chitosan are discussed, integrating green chemistry principles and eco-efficient processes. Advances in sustainable technologies that prioritize cost-effectiveness, safety, and performance are highlighted. The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative isolation and purification strategies, the adoption of continuous-flow processes, and greener synthetic approaches, such as click chemistry, are also explored. Overall, this work supports the adoption of a holistic approach for the development of chitosan derivatives, contributing to more sustainable and environmentally responsible materials and production processes.
Keywords: chitin; chitosan; chitosan derivatives; eco-friendly; green chemistry; sustainable chemistry; click chemistry chitin; chitosan; chitosan derivatives; eco-friendly; green chemistry; sustainable chemistry; click chemistry

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MDPI and ACS Style

Morais, A.; Lima, R.; Pinto, M.M.M.; Tiritan, M.E.; Fernandes, C. Chitosan Derivatives: Challenges and Opportunities in the Green and Sustainable Transition Era. Molecules 2026, 31, 1273. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081273

AMA Style

Morais A, Lima R, Pinto MMM, Tiritan ME, Fernandes C. Chitosan Derivatives: Challenges and Opportunities in the Green and Sustainable Transition Era. Molecules. 2026; 31(8):1273. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081273

Chicago/Turabian Style

Morais, Ana, Rita Lima, Madalena M. M. Pinto, Maria Elizabeth Tiritan, and Carla Fernandes. 2026. "Chitosan Derivatives: Challenges and Opportunities in the Green and Sustainable Transition Era" Molecules 31, no. 8: 1273. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081273

APA Style

Morais, A., Lima, R., Pinto, M. M. M., Tiritan, M. E., & Fernandes, C. (2026). Chitosan Derivatives: Challenges and Opportunities in the Green and Sustainable Transition Era. Molecules, 31(8), 1273. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081273

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