REVIEW: A Critical View at the Analysis of Chitosan Characteristics: Towards Biomedical Application

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Balzhima Shagdarova^1,a*, Alexey Lunkov¹, Yuliya Zhuikova¹, Sergey Lopatin¹, Alla Il’ina¹, and Valery Varlamov¹

¹Laboratory of Biopolymer Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117312 Moscow, Russia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: September 24, 2025; Revised: October 6, 2025; Accepted: October 15, 2025

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This review focuses on current challenges associated with the study and standardization of chitosan, a promising biopolymer for medical applications. Its key properties, such as biodegradability, low toxicity, mucoadhesion, and antimicrobial effects, make it highly sought in various fields of medicine. Particular attention is given to the analysis of chitosan parameters, including molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, and pattern of acetylation, as well as compliance with pharmacopoeial requirements. The challenges associated with the reproducibility of chitosan properties and the absence of uniform analytical standards are addressed. The review also summarized the data on the relationship between the chitosan structural characteristics and biological activity (antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, etc.), which is important for predicting its behavior in biological systems. Regulatory considerations governing the medical use of chitosan and prospects for its introduction into medical practice are examined. This review will be useful for researchers engaged in the development, characterization, and standardization of chitosan-based biomaterials.

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KEY WORDS: chitosan, molecular weight, degree of deacetylation, acetylation pattern, pharmacopoeial requirements, standardization, biological activity

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297925603831

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