Kulka-Kamińska Karolina, Brudzyńska Patrycja, Okura Mayuko, Ishii Tatsuyuki, Skala Marco, Reiter Russel J, Slominski Andrzej T, Kishi Kazuo, Steinbrink Kerstin, Sionkowska Alina, Kleszczyński Konrad
Laboratory for Biomaterials and Cosmetics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Gagarin Str. 7, 87-100 Toruń, Poland.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jun 20;26(13):5918. doi: 10.3390/ijms26135918.
Chitosan is increasingly utilized in combination with melatonin in novel formulations for a wide range of therapeutic applications. As a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, chitosan exhibits notable properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, moisturizing, and absorption capabilities, in addition to a high potential for chemical modification due to its functional groups. These characteristics make it a valuable material in biomedical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food packaging, and environmental applications. Melatonin, an indoleamine primarily synthesized in the pineal gland but also found in various peripheral organs and in diverse organisms-including plants, bacteria, and fungi-has been extensively investigated for its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as its roles in immunomodulation, mitochondrial function, and melanin biosynthesis. This review summarizes recent advances in the combined use of chitosan and melatonin, with emphasis on their synergistic effects in wound healing, anti-cancer therapies, tissue engineering (i.e., skin and bone regeneration), and drug delivery systems. Additional potential applications are discussed in the context of cosmetology, aesthetic medicine, and veterinary practice.
壳聚糖越来越多地与褪黑素结合用于新型制剂中，以实现广泛的治疗应用。作为一种生物相容性和可生物降解的聚合物，壳聚糖具有显著的特性，包括抗氧化、抗菌、保湿和吸收能力，此外，由于其官能团，它还具有很高的化学修饰潜力。这些特性使其成为生物医学、制药、化妆品、食品包装和环境应用中的一种有价值的材料。褪黑素是一种主要在松果体中合成的吲哚胺，但也存在于各种外周器官以及包括植物、细菌和真菌在内的多种生物体中，其抗氧化、抗凋亡和抗炎活性，以及在免疫调节、线粒体功能和黑色素生物合成中的作用已得到广泛研究。本综述总结了壳聚糖和褪黑素联合使用的最新进展，重点介绍了它们在伤口愈合、抗癌治疗、组织工程（即皮肤和骨骼再生）和药物递送系统中的协同作用。在美容、美容医学和兽医实践的背景下讨论了其他潜在应用。
