Nanoparticle Synthesis and Characterization Using Chitosan Stabilization

Chitosan, a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide derived from chitin, has emerged as a versatile agent in the green synthesis and stabilisation of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles. Its abundant amine and hydroxyl groups facilitate both the reduction of metal precursors and robust surface capping, enabling precise control over particle size, shape and colloidal stability under mild, aqueous conditions. Chitosan-stabilised nanoparticles exhibit tunable optical, magnetic and catalytic properties, making them well suited to applications in drug delivery, antimicrobial therapy, environmental remediation and sensing. Characterisation techniques—including transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analysis—elucidate nanoparticle morphology, dispersion and surface charge, while spectroscopic methods confirm the chemical interactions responsible for stabilisation. Ongoing efforts focus on chitosan modification to enhance functionality, scale up production and integrate these nanomaterials into practical devices, highlighting the global potential of this sustainable approach.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Research from all publishers

Recent studies have advanced the understanding of chitosan’s multifunctional role in nanoparticle fabrication. A comprehensive 2024 review emphasises chitosan’s capacity not only as a green reducing and stabilising agent but also as a shape-directing and size-controlling template, yielding uniform metal nanoparticles and nanocomposites with enhanced colloidal stability. These materials have been demonstrated in water purification, photothermal therapy and catalysis, benefiting from chitosan’s tailored molecular weight and degree of deacetylation. In 2023, researchers developed a biosynthetic route combining plant extracts with chitosan to fabricate gold nanoparticles with potent antimicrobial efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacteria and synergistic cytotoxic effects in breast cancer cell lines. Detailed characterisation by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements confirmed a stable chitosan shell that improved bioactivity and reduced cytotoxicity toward healthy cells. Foundational work from 2021 further delineated the influence of chitosan’s physicochemical properties on nanoparticle formation, providing design principles for drug delivery vectors, imaging agents and tissue-engineering scaffolds and setting the stage for future clinical and industrial applications.

Nanoparticle Synthesis and Characterization Using Chitosan Stabilization publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanoparticle synthesis and characterization using chitosan stabilization across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Chitosan: A linear cationic polysaccharide obtained by deacetylation of chitin, used as a reducing and stabilising agent in nanoparticle synthesis.

Zeta potential: The electric potential at the nanoparticle–solvent interface, indicative of colloidal stability and propensity to aggregate.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM): An imaging technique using high-energy electrons to resolve nanoparticle size and morphology at nanometre resolution.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR): A method that identifies chemical bonds and functional groups by measuring infrared absorption spectra of nanoparticle surfaces.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR): A collective oscillation of conduction electrons at the surface of metallic nanoparticles induced by incident light, used to assess particle size, shape and aggregation state.

References

1. Chitosan: A Green Approach to Metallic Nanoparticle/Nanocomposite Synthesis and Applications. Polymers (2024).
2. Green Synthesis of Chitosan-Capped Gold Nanoparticles Using Salvia officinalis Extract: Biochemical Characterization and Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities. Molecules (2023).
3. Roles of Chitosan in Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications. Nanomaterials (2021).