Chitosan, a versatile biopolymer derived from chitin, is already a well-established player in pharmaceuticals, medicine, cosmetics, and environmental applications. But things get even more interesting when chitosan joins forces with another powerful compound: caffeine. While it might sound like the base of a high-energy supplement, this combination is in fact a promising area of research – with applications reaching far beyond the food industry.

The review article presents various chitosan-based platforms for drug delivery. In particular, systems for cancer treatment and for the delivery of growth factors that promote tissue regeneration.

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a global health burden. They include a wide range of diseases, from common colds to severe pneumonia. A novel chitosan containing microparticle was developed as a potential drug carrier system for the treatment of RTIs.

After already high numbers in 2023, 4025 articles dealing with chitosan were published in 2024. That is 616 more than in the previous year. This development shows that chitosan, as a versatile biopolymer, is attracting more and more attention from researchers worldwide. Of the 4025 search results on PubMed, 247 were reviews. Thematically, the reviews dealt with the diverse application possibilities of chitosan.