Biomedical Applications of Marine Biopolymers in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (Chapter 3)

Abstract

Marine ecosystems harbor incredibly rich biodiversity, which houses an extensive variety of biological substances with abundant economic value. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) employ engineering and natural biotic laws for fabricating novel tissues and organs, encouraging the repair and renewal of tissues and organs impaired by trauma or disease. Biopolymers were studied extensively in regenerative medicine due to their nontoxicity, low antigenicity, feasibility to complicated shapes and scaffolds, appropriate porosity, and mechanical strength with the ability to support cell growth and proliferation. Biopolymers derived from marine sources form a part of the growing number of materials reported as suitable options in regenerative medicine due to their natural availability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ease of isolation. The biomedical industry is investigating marine biomaterials with specific properties for application in bone regeneration, wound dressing, wound healing, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. In the present review, we have discussed some recent developments in marine biopolymers focusing on their promise for biomedical applications, specifically in TERM.