Natural Antiseptic Properties of Chitosan Boosts Its Adoption as Ideal Preservative in Commercial Products

Chitosan is an enzyme-like polymer consisting of randomly distributed N- {(glycosyl) acetates and β-linked D-Glucosamine, which are derived from the sea algae Chitopsis. It is synthesized from the chitin shell of marine crustaceans and shrimp by washing away the chitin. The chitosan polymer is used in various industries. It has been used in skin care, cosmetics, detergents, pharmaceuticals, food, and other applications. Chitosan also works as a strong emulsifier and preservative, and its use in cosmetics has led to widespread recognition of its health benefits. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved that chitosan is safe in the use of foods and drugs.

The natural antiseptic properties of chitosan have made it an ideal preservative for use in many commercial products. Common ingredients include shampoos and conditioners, detergents, soaps, and shampoos. Chitosan has also been used as a source of antibiotics since the early days of antibiotics. Chitosan has also been shown to have an anti-cancer effect in animals, although clinical studies on humans are lacking. It has shown promising results in cancer cell culture, but further research is required to confirm this effect. Chitosan may be beneficial in preventing prostate cancer, but further research is needed to determine whether it has similar anti-carcinogenic properties. Chitosan, however, does show promise in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in vitro. In addition, chitosan has been shown to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

3D-printing of crosslinked chitosan is a major development in the recent past. For instance, in June 2020, researchers from University of Greenwich, U.K., reported development of novel crosslinked chitosan (CH)–genipin (GE) bioink laden with keratinocyte and human dermal fibroblast cells. The novel bioink printed using an extruder-based bioprinter has potential skin regeneration.

Chitosan, however, has been the target of criticism since many studies indicated that this derivative was not as effective as claimed by manufacturers. Chitosan was found to be a weak antiseptic when compared with other antiseptics, and some studies suggested that it can have adverse effects on human health. As with other synthetic ingredients, there are concerns about the effects of chitosan on human health because of the natural antiseptic properties it contains. Chitosan may cause gastrointestinal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and reproductive disorders if taken in large doses over prolonged periods. The potential side effects of chitosan include stomach irritation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Despite these potential dangers, chitosan-based products remain available on the market. It is widely used in cosmetics and in the skin care industry. Some cosmetics contain a small amount of chitosan, although it may not be used as a main ingredient. Some of these chemicals are removed from the finished product to reduce the potential for allergic reactions.