Advancements in chitosan-based hydrogel synthesis using ionizing radiation for medical purposes: opportunities and challenges

Biocompatible hydrogels are crucial for biomedical applications, driving significant advancements in their fabrication through the use of ionizing radiation technology. This technology offers a promising eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods by enabling the formation of hydrogels that are biodegradable, non-toxic, and biocompatible. Chitosan (CS)-based hydrogels exhibit remarkable properties such as drug loading and release capabilities, functional scaffolding, biosensing, and antimicrobial activity that position them at the forefront of biomedical research. Therefore, this review is important to integrate existing research, underscore advancements, and identify gaps in knowledge. The primary focus of this review is on the fabrication of CS hydrogels through the ionizing radiation technique, comparing it with other methods and elucidating its benefits and limitations. Also emphasizes the CS-based hydrogels for biomedical applications, such as in drug delivery systems, wound healing, and tissue engineering, directing future research toward their functional use. Finally, it provides future research directions in developing CS-based hydrogels for advanced biomedical applications.