title: Chitosan based hydrogels: characteristics and pharmaceutical applications.
abstract: Hydrogel scaffolds serve as semi synthetic or synthetic extra cellular matrix to provide an amenable environment for cellular adherence and cellular remodeling in three dimensional structures mimicking that of natural cellular environment. Additionally, hydrogels have the capacity to carry small molecule drugs and/or proteins, growth factors and other necessary components for cell growth and differentiation. In the context of drug delivery, hydrogels can be utilized to localize drugs, increase drugs concentration at the site of action and consequently reduce off-targeted side effects. The current review aims to describe and classify hydrogels and their methods of production. The main highlight is chitosan-based hydrogels as biocompatible and medically relevant hydrogels for drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Oveisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: S Mohammadi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Samani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, I.R. Iran ; Department of Cancer Immunology and Aids, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Amoozgar
keywords: Chitosan; Crosslinking; Drug delivery; Hydrogel; Tissue engineering