Chitosan Functionalizations, Formulations and Composites 2.0

Dear Colleagues,

Chitosan, a rather abundant naturally occurring polysaccharide, is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer widely applied in bio-medicine, cosmetics, the chemical industry, the food industry, and the environmental field. The extensive application of such a polymer is due to the presence of functional groups that are easily editable with different molecules in order to obtain materials with new or improved properties. Chitosan is also one of the most used excipients in pharmaceutical formulations thanks to its mucoadhesive and enhanced penetration properties as well as to its ability to make the drug more available. However, compared to plastics, chitosan possesses poor mechanical and water/gas vapor barrier properties, which limit its industrial use. The physicochemical and biological properties of chitosan as well as its processability can be improved via the preparation of composites obtained by physical blending or chemical modifications. Frequently used components include natural polymers, synthetic polymers, and inorganic micro- or nano-particles. Nanofillers, particularly, seem to be a promising option for the development of nanocomposites to be employed in specific applications.

We particularly take an interest in original papers and reviews that report the relevance of chitosan-based formulations and composites in the design and fabrication of medical devices, drug delivery systems, food packaging, and water purification systems.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Chitosan-based systems for medical devices;
• Chitosan-based systems for food packaging;
• Chitosan-based systems for drug delivery;
• Chitosan-based micro- and nano-composites;
• Structure–property relationships in composites based on chitosan;
• Biomedical applications of chitosan-based composites;
• Chitosan-based antimicrobial and/or antioxidant systems;
• Chitosan-based systems for environmental applications.

Dr. Iolanda Francolini
Dr. Antonella Piozzi
Guest Editors

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