The Application of Chitosan Nanostructures in Stomatology.
Molecules 2021;
26:molecules26206315. [PMID:
34684896 PMCID:
PMC8541323 DOI:
10.3390/molecules26206315]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chitosan (CS) is a natural polymer with a positive charge, a deacetylated derivative of chitin. Chitosan nanostructures (nano-CS) have received increasing interest due to their potential applications and remarkable properties. They offer advantages in stomatology due to their excellent biocompatibility, their antibacterial properties, and their biodegradability. Nano-CSs can be applied as drug carriers for soft tissue diseases, bone tissue engineering and dental hard tissue remineralization; furthermore, they have been used in endodontics due to their antibacterial properties; and, finally, nano-CS can improve the adhesion and mechanical properties of dental-restorative materials due to their physical blend and chemical combinations. In this review, recent developments in the application of nano-CS for stomatology are summarized, with an emphasis on nano-CS’s performance characteristics in different application fields. Moreover, the challenges posed by and the future trends in its application are assessed.
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