Hydrogels based on chitosan in tissue regeneration: How do they work? A mini review

The repair of tissue defects after injury is of significant clinical and research importance. A variety of chitosan-based hydrogels have been investigated and applied to address this problem. By using different synthetic methods, the hydrogels exhibit distinct physical properties, including porosity, adhesion, and stiffness. These properties are considered important factors affecting cell proliferation and tissue regeneration. Meanwhile, drug delivery and cell delivery are the two main strategies to improve the therapeutic effects of chitosan-based hydrogels, but the choices of cells or drugs are quite varied and largely depend on the specificity of the treated tissues. The present review summarizes the physicochemical properties of chitosan-based hydrogels and their influences on cells, and lists specific ways to promote the tissue regeneration in different systems of the human body. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47235.