RECENT PROGRESS OF CHITIN-BASED MATERIALS
甲壳素基新材料研究进展

Chitin is the most abundant nature resources next to cellulose.Regardless its poor solubility,functional materials developed from chitin are showing great potential in biomedical and biology applications due to its appealing biocompatible and biodegradable properties.Chitosan is the most important derivative of chitin.It is hydrophilic,pH responsive,gel-forming and easy to functionization without losing its biological activity.Films,Fibers,gels and powders are found their applications in various occasions.In this review,chitin and chitosan based functional materials are highlighted.Special interests are focused on recent developments in the filed of catalytic materials,medical nanomaterials,analytic materials,antibacterial and edible packaging materials and environmental materials.It is anticipated that more uses of chitin and chitosan as high value-added biomedical materials will be forthcoming in the near future.