14 Design and development of chitosan-based textiles for biomedical applications

Chitosan (CS) is considered to be one of the most abundant and prominent biopolymers, exhibiting excellent physicochemical properties such as hydrogel nature as well as anti-microbial and haemostatic nature. Moreover, its inherent properties make it suitable for wound healing applications and designing anti-microbial polymeric systems. CS can also be combined with other polymers to enhance its performance in wound care. Further, it may be immobilized on textile support for the development of bioactive surfaces for numerous biomedical applications. The haemostatic nature of the CS-based fabric also helps in designing materials for controlling excessive bleeding in patients. This chapter is focused on utilizing functional CS to yield more effective therapies and vastly extend human health span.