Antimicrobial activity of chitosan nanoparticles

Chitosan is a deacetylated chitin which is found naturally, particularly in fungal cell walls and crustacean shells. Chitosan is biocompatible and fully biodegradable and is extensively analyzed for antimicrobial property. Chitosan has also been explored as a drug carrier due to its biocompatible properties. Some studies have demonstrated that use of chitosan to coat nanoparticles made of other materials would help in reducing their impact on the body and also increase their bioavailability. The molecular weight of chitosan and the degree of deacetylation can be modified to derive different physicomechanical properties. Chitosan exhibits potent antifungal activity against several fungal strains including Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus niger and Alternaria alternata. Various factors such as molecular weight, dose and functional groups attached to the chitosan have been shown to modulate the antifungal activity of chitosan. Chitosan is known to exert antifungal activity without the need for any chemical modification, however, new derivatives of chitosan can be created to target specific microbial pathogens. The development of novel and ecofriendly methods of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) preparation is in progress for developing chitosan as an efficient antimicrobial agent and in drug delivery system. This review is to focus on recent application of CSNPs as antibacterial and antifungal agent and to highlight the effectiveness of employing chitosan with silver and other metal nanoparticles.