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Review
. 2025 Apr 6;11(4):275.
doi: 10.3390/gels11040275.

Chitosan-Based Gel Development: Extraction, Gelation Mechanisms, and Biomedical Applications

Nicoleta-Mirela Blebea  1 , Ciprian Pușcașu  2 , Robert-Alexandru Vlad  3 , Gabriel Hancu  4
Affiliations
Review

Chitosan-Based Gel Development: Extraction, Gelation Mechanisms, and Biomedical Applications

Nicoleta-Mirela Blebea et al. Gels. .

Abstract

Chitosan (CS), a versatile biopolymer obtained through the deacetylation of chitin, has gained significant interest in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and unique gel-forming capabilities. This review comprehensively analyzes CS-based gel development, covering its extraction from various natural sources, gelation mechanisms, and biomedical applications. Different extraction methods, including chemical, biological, and green techniques, are discussed regarding efficiency and sustainability. The review explores the physicochemical properties of CS that influence its gelation behavior, highlighting various gelation mechanisms such as physical, ionic, and chemical cross-linking. Recent advances in gel formation, including Schiff base reactions, Diels-Alder click chemistry, and thermosensitive gelation, have expanded the applicability of CS hydrogels. Furthermore, CS-based gels have demonstrated potential in wound healing, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and antimicrobial applications, offering controlled drug release, enhanced biocompatibility, and tunable mechanical properties. The incorporation of nanomaterials, bioactive molecules, and functional cross-linkers has further improved hydrogel performance. The current review underscores the growing significance of CS-based gels as innovative biomaterials in regenerative medicine and pharmaceutical sciences.

Keywords: chitosan; drug delivery; gelation mechanisms; hydrogels; tissue engineering.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structural comparison between chitin and chitosan. Chitin is composed of β-(1→4)-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units, while chitosan results from the partial deacetylation of chitin, replacing the acetyl group (-COCH3) at the C2 position with a primary amino group (-NH2) (created with Biovia Draw, version 2025, Dassault Systèmes, Vélizy-Villacoublay, France by Hancu G.).
Figure 2
Figure 2
CS production from chitin: sources, extraction, and properties. Created with BioRender (web application, accessed February 2025; BioRender Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada; www.biorender.com). Figure prepared by Pușcașu C.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Extraction methods of CS (EDTA—ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid); Created with BioRender (web application, accessed February 2025; BioRender Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada; www.biorender.com). Figure prepared by Pușcașu C.).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Chemical reactions of CS. Created with BioRender (web application, accessed February 2025; BioRender Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada; www.biorender.com). Figure prepared by Pușcașu C.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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