Table 1.

Advantages and disadvantages of chitosan hydrogels, films, and nanofibers [82–84]

Formulation	Advantages	Disadvantages
Hydrogels (gels)	• Easy to prepare by simple mixing • Ready to be applied/used on the skin • Retain skin hydration (beneficial for drug permeation) • May increase drug thermodynamic activity upon drying after application	• Not occlusive • Require proper storage to avoid dehydration/evaporation • Easily wash off and contaminate clothing
Films	• Easy to prepare by simple mixing • Easy to store and better stability	• Require drying step during preparation • Require hydration/swelling for drug release
Nanofibers	• Better drug release and permeation due to smaller size • May present as a scaffold for tissue growth • Easy to store and better stability • Flexible and easy to be applied on the skin	• Require multiple steps or dedicated instruments (e.g., electrospinning) to prepare • Require hydration/swelling for drug release