Chitosan and PVP: Versatile Biopolymers for Drug Delivery and Advanced Materials

Chitosan (CS) is one of the most studied natural polymers in biomaterials because its extraction from the exoskeletons of crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs is not too complex or expensive. Additionally, this polysaccharide has hydroxyl and primary amino functional groups in its structure, making it particularly useful for interacting with other compounds, mainly in acidic media. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), like chitosan, has antibacterial properties and biocompatibility with living tissue, which has made these two biopolymers the object of study for the development of new materials with desired properties and in the design of drug delivery systems (DDS). Both materials can form films and gels; however, one advantage of PVP compared to CS is its solubility in water. Another essential feature of these biopolymers is their ability to form complexes with synthetic drugs and natural products, which makes them especially useful in the design of DDS. This review presents the main characteristics of these biopolymers and addresses the possibility of combining them to develop materials and DDS that provide individual characteristics to improve their physical, chemical, and biological properties.