%0 Journal Article
%T O-carboxymethyl chitosan in biomedicine: A review.
%A Chen L
%A Xie Y
%A Chen X
%A Li H
%A Lu Y
%A Yu H
%A Zheng D
%J Int J Biol Macromol
%V 275
%N 0
%D 2024 Aug 28
%M 38945322
%F 8.025
%R 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133465
%X O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMC) is a chitosan derivative produced through the substitution of hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups in glucosamine units with carboxymethyl (-CH2COOH) substituents, effectively addressing the inherent solubility issues of chitosan in aqueous solutions. O-CMC has garnered significant interest due to its enhanced solubility, elevated viscosity, minimal toxicity, and advantageous biocompatibility properties. Furthermore, O-CMC demonstrates antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant characteristics, rendering it a promising candidate for various biomedical uses such as wound healing, tissue engineering, anti-tumor therapies, biosensors, and bioimaging. Additionally, O-CMC is well-suited for the fabrication of nanoparticles, hydrogels, films, microcapsules, and tablets, offering opportunities for effective drug delivery systems. This review outlines the distinctive features of O-CMC, offers analyses of advancements and future potential based on current research, examines significant obstacles for clinical implementation, and foresees its ongoing significant impacts in the realm of biomedicine.