Functionalization of Polymer Materials for Medical Applications Using Chitosan Nanolayers

Abstract Chitosan (CS) in different forms has already been extensively studied, as an active surface agent integrated onto different medical devices. The latest trend in applications is to design nanolayers by the specific CS nanoparticles (NPs) that should be manipulatively (reversible/irreversible) attached onto those materials. High specific area due to nanosize level, as well as manipulation of binding, could increase the bioactive properties of polymer materials, functionalized by chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs), and in this way reduce the biggest problems of medical devices connected with infections. In this chapter, CS and its derivatives are presented for drug delivery, as well as for functionalization of the surface of different polymer materials, which are applied in several health areas, such as hygiene medical materials, i.e., wound dressings, tampons, urethral catheters, and cardiovascular grafts.