Preparation of Different Types of Carboxymethyl Chitosan Derivatives

Chitosan (CS) has long been regarded as a substance with numerous exceptional qualities, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and ecological sustainability. However, its widespread use is hampered by its weak solubility in water and in typical organic solvents. This limits its applications in biomedical and other areas. Chemical modification of chitosan improves its solubility in aqueous solutions. The use of carboxymethyl moieties to chemically modify the hydroxyl and amino groups already present on the CS chains would increase the solubility of chitosan and also endow it with a variety of special chemical, physical, and biological properties. The water solubility, antibacterial, absorption/retention, and emulsion stabilizing properties of the carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) compounds have all been improved. They can engage with cells to promote cell proliferation, regeneration, and wound healing. So, this review will focus on different derivatives of CMC with special emphasis on their preparative methods.