Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) technology was used for preparation of functional pH sensitive chitosan-based aerogels characterized with micron size pores and their impregnation with thymol as a natural bioactive substance. Hydrogels based on chitosan, itaconic and methacrylic acids were transformed to alcogels and dried in the air or with scCO(2) to obtain xero- and aerogels, respectively. Applying 10 min of static and 120 min of dynamic scCO(2) drying at 11 MPa and 45 degrees C followed with the decompression at a rate of 1 MPa/min yielded an advantageous aerogel with favorable swelling kinetics and elasticity, compared to the xerogel and aerogels obtained at other decompression rates and drying times. This aerogel was successfully loaded with thymol (up to 4.6 wt.%) using supercritical scCO(2) at 10 MPa and 35 degrees C. In vitro studies of swelling in PBS at 37 degrees C indicated a great potential of the obtained stimuli-responsive chitosan gels for topical administration of thymol known for antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:2192-2199, 2018. (c) 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers