Nutrient and Drug Delivery Systems

This chapter deliberates on the utilisation of nanochitosan as an efficient delivery system for nutrients and drugs in fish and other kinds of seafood. Nanotechnology has brought about diverse advances in feed production, nutrient delivery, ailment detection, diagnosis and treatment. Nanochitosan has been revealed to be effective in enhancing the bioavailability and absorption of nutrients as well as a potent drug carrier with controlled release. Polymeric nanoparticles such as chitosan are capable of playing the role of effective nutrient and drug transporters due to some innate features such as increased penetrability, non-toxicity, biodegradability, specificity and ease of production. The use of nanochitosan as a nutrient and drug delivery system in fishes and aquaculture is elaborated here. Contemporary research proposes that the use of nanochitosan may be able to combat the difficulties of enhancing productivity and sustainability in the field of aquaculture as well as promote environmental safety.