Alveolar bone defects caused by trauma, periodontal diseases, and congenital malformations pose clinical challenges that require effective therapeutic solutions. Biological scaffolds play a key role in tissue engineering by providing structural support for cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Among various natural polymers, alginate has garnered significant attention as a promising material due to its superior biocompatibility and gelation properties. In the systematic review, a comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar was conducted, resulting in the identification of 81 studies. After rigorous evaluation of titles, abstracts, and full texts, 7 articles were selected for inclusion. Exclusions were made based on title relevance, abstract evaluation, full text analysis, and publication dates prior to 2010. Data extraction focused on scaffold design, cell types, growth factors, and regenerative outcomes such as cell proliferation, mineralization, and alkaline phosphatase activity. The outcomes from studies involving alginate-based scaffolds for alveolar bone regeneration demonstrated enhanced bone production, increased bone density, and accelerated healing. However, concerns remain regarding the mechanical properties of alginate and its ability to integrate with resident tissue, support angiogenesis, and maintain long-term stability. Alginate shows great potential as a biological scaffold for alveolar bone regeneration; additional studies are required to optimize its design and resolve existing limitations. Future advancements in biomaterials and regenerative medicine are expected to strengthen the role of alginate in clinical applications for bone tissue engineering.
Ramachandran et al. (Thu,) studied this question.