An Overview of Chitosan-Based Composites Containing Silver or Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Antimicrobial and Antibacterial Properties, and Biomedical Perspectives

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance has stimulated the development of alternative antimicrobial materials capable of preventing microbial growth and biofilm formation. Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide derived from chitin through deacetylation, possesses intrinsic antimicrobial properties, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and low toxicity, making it an attractive matrix for nanocomposite materials. However, the antimicrobial efficacy of pure chitosan is often limited by different factors, such as pH sensitivity, mechanical weakness, and poor solubility at neutral pH. To overcome these limitations, researchers have developed chitosan composites containing nanoparticles to enhance antimicrobial and antibacterial efficacy. This review provides an update on the status of the action mechanisms, synthesis methods, antimicrobial and antibacterial performances, and potential biomedical applications of chitosan-based composites containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) or zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs).