Chitosan as a sustainable biomaterial: A review of sources, key properties, applications and the emergence of nano-chitosan
1 Department of Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, International University, Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
2 Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Biotechnology, International University, Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
3 Department of Food Technology, School of Biotechnology, International University, Vietnam National University of Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Review
International Journal of Scholarly Research in Biology and Pharmacy, 2026, 07(02), 031-043.
Article DOI: 10.56781/ijsrbp.2026.7.2.0025
Publication history:
Received on 17 March 2026; revised on 02 May 2026; accepted on 05 May 2026
Abstract:
Chitosan is a natural biopolymer obtained by the partial deacetylation of chitin and has attracted considerable attention because of its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and versatile biological activities. The objective of this review was to provide an integrated overview of chitosan, focusing on its major sources, key physicochemical properties, agricultural applications, and the emerging role of nanochitosan. The review summarized and analyzed scientific publications from 2013 to 2025 with respect to chitosan and nanochitosan. The review result of available literature showed that chitosan can be produced from crustaceans, insects, and fungi, with source-dependent differences in purity, production feasibility, and functional performance. Among its physicochemical characteristics, molecular weight and degree of deacetylation are two major determinants of solubility, reactivity, biological activity, and application suitability. In agriculture, chitosan has been widely investigated for antimicrobial activity, seed coating, plant growth promotion, and stress mitigation. However, conventional chitosan still faces practical limitations related to water solubility, formulation stability, and variability in field performance. Nanochitosan has therefore emerged as a promising functional upgrade because its nanoscale formulation can improve dispersion, bioavailability, controlled delivery, and interactions with plant and microbial systems. Overall, chitosan and nanochitosan show strong potential as sustainable materials for modern agriculture, although further work is still needed to standardize production, optimize formulation properties, and strengthen field-scale validation.
Keywords:
Agriculture; Antimicrobial; Chitosan; Deacetylation; Fungal chitosan; Molecular weight; Nanochitosan
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Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0