Micro/nano encapsulation methods of bioactive materials controlled release using chitosan for functionalization of textiles substrates: Review

Chitin as a biopolymeric material is assumed to be the most substantially abundant Material in the biosphere after cellulose. It is a crucial component of many organisms’ exoskeletons as scrap from the global marine food industry. Approximately 6.1 million metric tons of crustaceans are captured from both coastal and inland water bodies; resulting in a waste of 40–50 % of the total mass. Given the significant amount of waste produced, it is important to draw the attention of researchers and scholars to this potential field of study. Chitosan chemically, is a cationic biopolymer synthesized by deacetylation of chitin. Chitosan has signalized intrinsic properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, metabolizability, cationic nature, and nontoxicity. Encapsulation involves entrapping a bioactive substance within a shell-forming material. Micro/nano encapsulation has been a focus of research in the recent decades, especially in the pharmaceutical, textiles, agro, and food sectors. When encapsulating bioactive compounds, it is crucial to carefully select the encapsulating shell material and encapsulation technique. This review examines the chitin deacetylation process and comprehensively covers methods of micro/nano encapsulation of bioactive materials using chitosan. Innovative textile functionalization has been successfully reported to reap advantages from the application of micro/nano encapsulation.