Recent Advances and Applications of Chitin and Chitosan Hydrogel Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering
- 1Faculty of Materials Sciences and Technology, VSB—Technical University of Ostrava, 70800 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- 2Institute of Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyova 464/118, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic
- 3Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyova 656/123, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic
Abstract
Hydrogel scaffolds have emerged as a central platform in tissue engineering due to their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix and support cellular functions. Among natural polymers, chitin and its derivative chitosan have emerged as valuable candidates for hydrogel scaffold development because of their biodegradability, compatibility with living tissues, and inherent biological functionality; however, their distinct and complementary roles in hydrogel scaffold design are often insufficiently differentiated in the literature. This review provides a comprehensive and mechanism-driven analysis of chitin- and chitosan-based hydrogel scaffolds, emphasising how their molecular structure governs network formation, mechanical performance, and biological functionality. Chitin is highlighted primarily as a structurally robust and crystalline component suitable for reinforcement. In contrast, chitosan serves as a versatile, soluble, and chemically reactive matrix enabling various crosslinking and functionalization strategies. Recent advances in physical, ionic, and covalent crosslinking as well as composite scaffold engineering, biofunctionalization, and emerging fabrication approaches such as injectable systems and three-dimensional bioprinting are systematically examined. The relationships between scaffold architecture, degradation behaviour, and cellular responses are discussed in key tissue engineering applications, including bone, cartilage, skin, and nerve regeneration. Importantly, this review introduces a unified structure-property-function framework that distinguishes the roles of chitin and chitosan within hydrogel systems and links crosslinking mechanisms to application-specific performance requirements, an aspect not comprehensively addressed in previous studies. Current challenges related to mechanical limitations, material variability, and clinical translation are critically evaluated, and future perspectives for the rational design of next-generation biomimetic hydrogel scaffolds are proposed.
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BibTeX
@article{abdelmohsen2026recent,
title = {{Recent Advances and Applications of Chitin and Chitosan Hydrogel Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering}},
author = {A.M. Abdel-Mohsen and Rasha M. Abdel-Rahman and Kateřina Skotnicová},
journal = {Gels},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.3390/gels12050427},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050427},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Recent Advances and Applications of Chitin and Chitosan Hydrogel Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering
AU - A.M. Abdel-Mohsen
AU - Rasha M. Abdel-Rahman
AU - Kateřina Skotnicová
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/13
JO - Gels
DO - 10.3390/gels12050427
UR - https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12050427
AB - Hydrogel scaffolds have emerged as a central platform in tissue engineering due to their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix and support cellular functions. Among natural polymers, chitin and its derivative chitosan have emerged as valuable candidates for hydrogel scaffold development because of their biodegradability, compatibility with living tissues, and inherent biological functionality; however, their distinct and complementary roles in hydrogel scaffold design are often insufficiently differentiated in the literature. This review provides a comprehensive and mechanism-driven analysis of chitin- and chitosan-based hydrogel scaffolds, emphasising how their molecular structure governs network formation, mechanical performance, and biological functionality. Chitin is highlighted primarily as a structurally robust and crystalline component suitable for reinforcement. In contrast, chitosan serves as a versatile, soluble, and chemically reactive matrix enabling various crosslinking and functionalization strategies. Recent advances in physical, ionic, and covalent crosslinking as well as composite scaffold engineering, biofunctionalization, and emerging fabrication approaches such as injectable systems and three-dimensional bioprinting are systematically examined. The relationships between scaffold architecture, degradation behaviour, and cellular responses are discussed in key tissue engineering applications, including bone, cartilage, skin, and nerve regeneration. Importantly, this review introduces a unified structure-property-function framework that distinguishes the roles of chitin and chitosan within hydrogel systems and links crosslinking mechanisms to application-specific performance requirements, an aspect not comprehensively addressed in previous studies. Current challenges related to mechanical limitations, material variability, and clinical translation are critically evaluated, and future perspectives for the rational design of next-generation biomimetic hydrogel scaffolds are proposed.
SN - 2310-2861
ER -