Carboxymethyl Chitosan: Marine-Derived Multifunctional Biomaterial Leading Green Innovations Across Industries

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), a water-soluble derivative obtained through the carboxymethylation modification of chitosan, has successfully overcome the major application bottleneck of natural chitosan—poor water solubility. The modified CMCS not only exhibits excellent solubility in neutral and alkaline solutions but also inherits the key advantages of the chitosan family, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, moisturizing properties, and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.

In terms of applications, CMCS has demonstrated immense potential across multiple sectors. In the healthcare domain, CMCS serves as a core component of advanced wound dressings for accelerating hemostasis and tissue regeneration, enables targeted drug delivery through pH-responsive mechanisms, and can be engineered into scaffolds for cartilage and nerve tissue regeneration. In 2025, Qingdao BioTemed successfully developed China’s first maternal and infant medical device product based on CMCS, specifically addressing issues such as breastfeeding pain and cesarean section incision healing. Meanwhile, the Chinese clinical trial of Sinclair’s novel hyaluronic acid filler KIO021, which utilizes a patented carboxymethyl chitosan solution, has completed enrollment of all 500 subjects. In the food industry, CMCS has emerged as an ideal candidate for biodegradable food packaging materials, demonstrating remarkable effectiveness in the preservation of prepared dishes and fruit and vegetable coatings. Furthermore, CMCS serves as an efficient moisturizing and soothing ingredient in cosmetics and finds application in heavy metal ion adsorption and wastewater purification in the environmental sector.

Looking ahead, research on carboxymethyl chitosan is advancing toward more precise, intelligent, and sustainable directions. Recent cutting-edge studies focus on the development of injectable self-healing hydrogels for the integrated management of skin bioelectronics and regenerative wound healing, near-infrared responsive nanozyme composite hydrogels for optimizing the bone defect microenvironment, and antibacterial nanocomposites designed to combat antibiotic resistance. As the demand for precision medicine and sustainable development continues to grow, the potential of CMCS in targeted drug delivery, smart responsive materials, regenerative medicine, and environmental remediation will continue to expand. According to market research, the global medical-grade carboxymethyl chitosan market size reached approximately CNY 130 million in 2024 and is projected to approach CNY 170 million by 2031. This “smart” biomaterial, derived from the ocean, is redefining the frontiers of biotechnology while offering innovative green solutions for human health and ecological protection.