Polysaccharide-based interpenetrating polymeric network system for biomedical use

Abstract Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) have gained much attention in the last decades, in the field of biomedical applications. Among the other natural polymers, polysaccharides have gained much attention in the development of IPN-based carrier system due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability good mechanical properties, and their bioactivity. In this chapter we discussed different types of systems, such as microspheres, nanoparticles, microbeads, hydrogel, nanogel, tablets, capsules, etc., which have already been developed. IPN based on polysaccharides (chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, carrageenan, pullulan, locust bean gum) was discussed with the explanation of the supporting literature of recent studies. The cross-linking of IPN system has great impact on the performance of the prepared system for biomedical applications.