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Biopolymers have been serving the mankind in various ways since long. Over the last few years, these polymers have found great demand in various domains which includes bio medicine, tissue engineering, bio sensor fabrications etc. because of their excellent bio compatibility. In this context, chitosan has found global attention due to its environmentally benign nature, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ease of availability. In last one decade or so, extensive research in active biomaterials, like chitosan has led to the development of novel delivery systems for drugs, genes, and biomolecules; and regenerative medicine. Additionally, chitosan has also witnessed its usage in functionalization of biocompatible materials, nanoparticle (NP) synthesis, and immobilization of various bio-recognition elements (BREs) to form active bio-surfaces with great ease. Keeping these aspects in mind, we have written a comprehensive review which aims to acquaint its readers with the exceptional properties of chitosan and its usage in the domain of biomedicine, tissue engineering, and biosensor fabrication. Herein, we have briefly explained various aspects of direct utilization of chitosan and then presented vivid strategies towards formulation of chitosan based nanocomposites for biomedicine, tissue engineering, and biosensing applications.

A series of octanuclear p-cymene ruthenium and pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium and iridium metalla-assemblies has been prepared from tetrapyridyl porphyrin (tpp) panels and the corresponding dinuclear clips, (η6-MeC6H4Pri)2Ru2(μ4-C6HRO4)Cl2 (R = C11H23) and (η5-C5Me5)2M2(μ4-C6HRO4)Cl2 (M = Rh, Ir). All complexes were isolated in good yield as their triflate salts, [(η6-MeC6H4Pri)8Ru8(μ4-tpp)2(μ4-C6HRO4)4][CF3SO3]8 (1), [(η5-C5Me5)8Rh8(μ4-tpp)2(μ4-C6HRO4)4][CF3SO3]8 (2) and [(η5-C5Me5)8Ir8(μ4-tpp)2(μ4-C6HRO4)4][CF3SO3]8 (3), and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods. The antiproliferative activity of the complexes was evaluated on the cancerous (MCF-7, B16 and A549) and non-cancerous (NIH 3T3) cell lines, showing in all cases IC50 values around 0.1 μM. Further biological studies suggest that apoptosis is induced by the complexes and that interaction with DNA can be in part responsible for the high cytotoxicity.