Chitosan-Based Beads, and Preparation, Compositions and Uses Thereof

A composition administrable to a human being or an animal, the composition comprising an aqueous phase, wherein the aqueous phase comprises a plurality of beads that are microbeads or nanobeads, wherein the beads comprise a hydrogel matrix that comprises at least one carboxyalkyl chitosan having glucosamine units, N-acetyl-glucosamine units, and glucosamine units substituted with a carboxyalkyl group, said carboxyalkyl chitosan having:

• a degree of acetylation that is in a range of 30% to 80%, expressed as the number of moles of N-acetyl groups with respect to the number of moles of total glucosamine units;
• and
• a degree of substitution with a group of carboxyalkyl that is greater than 50%, expressed in number of moles of the substituent with respect to the number of moles of total units;
• and
• said carboxyalkyl chitosan being crosslinked by covalent bonds between the carboxyalkyl chitosan chains and/or co-crosslinked by covalent bonds with one or more other polymers.