Seaweed–cellulose scaffolds in tissue engineering: A state-of-the-art review

Scaffolds are crucial in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Scaffolds provide structural support and mechanical assistance to facilitate cellular processes. They should be non-toxic, non-immunogenic, biodegradable, and possess proper mechanical characteristics. However, the search for ideal scaffold materials continues due to drawbacks such as swift degradation, difficulty resembling native tissue, and immunogenicity risks. Bio-based natural scaffolds, such as seaweed-cellulose, have emerged as an appealing option due to their non-toxic, biodegradable, versatile, and sustainable nature. Seaweed–cellulose scaffolds have shown safety and benefits for fibroblast cell growth, with over 70% cell viability. The safety aspect is also demonstrated based on in vivo experiments, which show no foreign body reaction at the placement site. However, the evidence of the scaffold’s benefits is still limited, and long-term safety has yet to be assessed to determine its suitability to enhance the regenerative medicine aspect. In conclusion, seaweed–cellulose scaffolds represent a promising and environmentally responsible approach to tissue engineering, but more data are needed, including for method optimization and best seaweed species determination.