Chitosan Nanoparticles: Preparation Methods and Medical Applications

Nanotechnology has catalysed transformative breakthroughs across diverse scientific domains. Among emerging engineered nanomaterials, chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) have garnered substantial academic focus owing to their exceptional physicochemical profiles, characterized by inherent biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ecological safety. Within the biomedical sector, ChNPs serve as pivotal platforms due to their versatile chelating capacities, robust antimicrobial performance, and a high density of chemically accessible reactive functional groups. These polymer-based architectures demonstrate outstanding potential as nanocarriers designed for the encapsulation and targeted delivery of diverse therapeutic agents, including small-molecule drugs and bioactive compounds, for the management of various human diseases. Compared to unformulated, free-form counterparts, cargoloaded ChNPs exhibit enhanced therapeutic efficacy, superior structural stability during storage, and controlled, sustained-release kinetic profiles. This review delivers a rigorous and comprehensive systematic overview of contemporary ChNP fabrication methodologies alongside their primary medicinal applications, focusing on targeted drug delivery, oncological interventions, and the treatment of diverse pathological conditions via intrinsic antimicrobial pathways. Furthermore, critical insights into the biocompatibility, safety profiles, and toxicological assessments of ChNPs are evaluated through a comparative analysis of established in vitro tissue cultures and in vivo animal models.