MINI REVIEW ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL AND MICROANALYSIS CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITOSAN NANOCOMPOSITES USING SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Ezegbe Chekwube Andrew*,  Okorafor Ezinne Chinemerem, Ogbonna Emmanuel Emeka

 

ABSTRACT

The deacetylation of chitin, leads to the production of chitosan, which is the second-most abundant natural polymer on earth today. Some of its unique appealing properties such as non-toxicity, chemical versatility, biodegradability, biocompatibility, high adsorption capacity make them to stand out among other polymers used in formulation. Application of chitosan cuts across different spheres such as   biomedical applications for wound dressing, drug delivery, biosensors, and dietary supplement. However, as a biomaterial, there are certain limitations associated with chitosan. They include poor thermal stability, low mechanical strength, and poor barrier attributes. With the advent of nanotechnology over the years, chitosan has garnered immense interest as a matrix of nanocomposites that have led to the advancement in its effectiveness, eventually expanding its application areas. Chitosan nanocomposites are promising bio-based polymeric nanocomposites with exceptional biological and physicochemical properties that offer great potential for the delivery along with the controlled release of drugs and active compounds, thus functioning as a superior nanocarrier system. The application of chitosan in biomedical research such as bioimaging, cancer therapy, dentistry, and wound healing, among others has been recorded.

Keywords:

Chitosan, Polymer, Formulation, Scanning electron microscopy, Drug delivery.

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