Chitosan is produced by the deacetylation of chitin. It is obtained from insects and crustaceans. There are numerous therapeutic applications of chitosan, due to its properties, such as cholesterol, triglyceride, antioxidant activity, antibacterial, trapping, and hypoglycemic effects that help in preventing and treating chronic diseases.
The biological properties of chitosan make it ideal for various applications, related to food, environmental engineering, and agricultural usage.
Chitosan is massively utilized in pharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetic, and food industries due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Chitosan plays a crucial role in antioxidation. It is a bioactive compound used for food preservation. It is also the next most easily accessible polysaccharide in crustaceans. Around, 75% of total crustaceans’ weights are wasted, and chitins are extracted for shells of prawns, krills, lobsters, and crabs.
The chitosan industry is projected to rise in the coming years. It is ascribed to the rising application of chitosan in food and beverage, agrochemical, pharmaceutical, wastewater purification, cosmetic, and bioplastic applications.
Chitosan is non-toxic, and biodegradable in nature. It provides support to the above-mentioned industries in maintaining sustainability and boosts the material demand in pharmacological and biomedical applications.
The global pandemic has resulted in the propulsion of the chitosan industry, as numerous researchers consider chitosan as a potential agent for COVID-19 drug delivery systems. It is led by the presence of free hydroxy and amine groups in the structure of the chitosan, which can easily join the other molecules with a hydrogen bond.
During the worldwide lockdown, the government allowed the healthcare industry to function to provide treatment for COVID-19, which resulted in industry propulsion.
Under the source segment, the shrimp category holds the largest industry share, in terms of both volume, and revenue. It is also projected to experience the fastest growth in the coming years. It is led by the high amount of chitin in shrimp shells, and the growing demand for shrimp chitosan for wastewater treatment and food preservatives ingredient.
