This review provides a comprehensive and updated overview of the state of the art related to the biomedical applications of nanoparticles coated with chitosan. Discussions were based on selected literature in the field. Here, we discussed nanoparticles constituted by polymer, lipid and metal materials, which have been coated with chitosan. In addition, the methodological aspects of the coating process, which is performed by the addition of a chitosan solution into previously prepared nanoparticles or during nanoparticle formation, was reviewed, as well as the techniques employed to confirm an efficient coating process, such as determinations of particle size and zeta potential. Special attention is given to physicochemical and biological advantages brought by the chitosan-coating, such as increase in physicochemical stability, controlled release, improvement of tissue/cells interaction, and increase in the bioavailability of drugs (or active substances) and drug efficacy. We also pointed out safety concerns regarding chitosan-coated nanoparticles based on the results presented so far in the literature.

这篇综述提供了与包覆有壳聚糖的纳米颗粒的生物医学应用有关的最新技术的全面和更新的概述。讨论基于该领域的精选文献。在这里，我们讨论了由聚合物，脂质和金属材料构成的纳米颗粒，这些纳米颗粒已被壳聚糖包被。另外，对通过在先前制备的纳米颗粒中添加壳聚糖溶液或在纳米颗粒形成过程中进行的包衣过程的方法学方面进行了综述，并讨论了用于确定有效包衣过程的技术，例如测定粒度和ζ电势。特别注意壳聚糖涂层带来的物理化学和生物学优势，例如物理化学稳定性的提高，控释，改善组织/细胞相互作用，并提高药物（或活性物质）的生物利用度和药物功效。基于迄今为止在文献中提出的结果，我们还指出了与壳聚糖包被的纳米颗粒有关的安全性问题。