Chitin Nanofibril: a natural eco-friendly and immunoadjuvant active carrier for medical use

Abstract

Chitin, second polysaccharide in nature, occurs as a polymer based on the N-acetyl glucosamine monomer. This sugar-like compound in its small size dimension has the interesting capacity to enhance the immune response, being non toxic, skin-friendly and environmentally-friendly. Moreover, being it capable to make nanofibrous structure that mimic the ECM of the skin, it may find
many applications in the medical field. By many interesting studies it has been shown how the small size and nano size crystal chitin has the capacity to modulate the skin inflammatory processes, releasing anti-inflammatory cytokines by
the activation of the macrophage function. For the interesting physico-chemical, ecological and biological characteristics of this natural polymer, it may be used to make innovative products for the medical and cosmetic market. This paper reports some market data on the worldwide aesthetic and medical field of cosmetics and advanced medications together with the different possibility to use chitin nanofibrils.