Chitosan: A promising therapeutic agent and effective drug delivery system in managing diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2020-11, Vol.247, p.116594, Article 116594
• Main Authors: Sarkar, Sanjib, Das, Dibyendu, Dutta, Prachurjya, Kalita, Jatin, Wann, Sawlang Borsingh, Manna, Prasenjit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antidiabetic drug delivery; Chitosan; Chitosan - chemistry; Chitosan-based micro/nano-carriers; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus - drug therapy; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - administration & dosage; Hypoglycemic Agents - chemistry; Impaired glucose and lipid metabolism; Nanoparticles - administration & dosage; Nanoparticles - chemistry
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116594

[Display omitted] •Chitosan has attracted scientific attention for treating diabetes mellitus (DM).•Chitosan can recover impaired insulin secretion and glucose metabolism linked with DM.•Chitosan supplementation can improve altered lipid metabolism associated with DM.•Chitosan-based micro/nano vehicles have been used to deliver anti-diabetic drugs.•Chitosan can be used as therapeutic agent and drug carrier for treating DM. Chitosan, a promising carbohydrate biopolymer is gaining scientific attention in a wide range of biomedical applications due to its outstanding chemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Recently, various studies have demonstrated the beneficial activities of chitosan in protecting and proliferating pancreatic beta cells, lowering hyperglycemia, and preventing impaired lipid metabolism associated diabetes mellitus. Moreover, chitosan has also been used in formulating several types of micro/nano-carriers for the delivery of different antidiabetic drugs, like insulin, GLP1, exendin-4, DPP-4 inhibitor, and plasmid encoding insulin or GLP to reduce hyperglycemia. This review for the first time provides an overview of the currently available evidences on the potential benefits of chitosan in managing diabetes mellitus and also emphasizes on the chitosan-based micro/nano-carriers in delivery of various antidiabetic drugs via oral, nasal, and subcutaneous routes. The outcome of this review will be helpful for the development of a novel therapeutic to achieve better control of diabetes mellitus.