Abstract

Use of biopolymers, as alternatives to synthetic polymers, offers significant advantages on both living and environmental systems, by reducing and minimizing potential risks. Biopolymers represent safe materials that can replace synthetic ones in several branches of medicine. Among natural polymers, chitosan is unique, due to its biocompatibility, safety and Antibacterial Activity (ABA). Chitosan serves as a safe alternative inhibitor that can substitute synthetic antibiotics, which are associated with various side effects and the development of resistance. This mini-review focuses on the ABA of chitosan as an inhibitor against various bacteria, those are harmful for living systems particularly for humans. Properties, function and biomedical and health care applications of bulk and nanosized of chitosan were presented. The effects of chitosan on gram-positive- and gram-negative bacteria in vitro, and in vivo have been discussed. The inhibitory effects of chitosan with some antibiotics were compared. The effects of molecular weight (Mw), Degree of N-Acetylation (DA) of chitosan, on ABAs have been also discussed. Use of a variety of chitosan derivatives, composite of chitosan, and chitosan- based materials possessing ABAs in different branches of medicine have been described. The topic not only for different branches of medicine but also for other fields of biotechnology (agriculture, and environment) is of interest

Keywords:Chitosan; Antibacterial; Medical applications