CHITOSAN AS A BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER WITH ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL: SYNTHESIS METHODS, MECHANISMS OF ACTION, AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

This paper presents a systematic analysis of chitosan as a biodegradable polymer possessing intrinsic antimicrobial activity, positioning it as a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics amid rising antibiotic resistance. The main methods of chitosan production are considered – chemical, enzymatic, biological, and combined biotechnological – with a comparative evaluation based on degree of deacetylation, environmental impact, and suitability for biomedical use. The hierarchical relationship between chitosan's key physicochemical parameters – degree of deacetylation and molecular weight – and its antimicrobial mechanism of action, driven by the cationic nature of protonated amino groups, is analyzed. The anti - inflammatory role of chitosan, mediated through NF -κB inhibition and cytokine modulation, is demonstrated, and its biomedical applications are discussed in relation to the balance between bioactive and mechanical properties. The development of hybrid systems combining chitosan's bioactivity with the mechanical characteristics of other materials is identified as a promising direction for future research.