Emerging trends in nanomaterial-functionalized polysaccharide based biomaterials as antibacterial agents in tissue engineering

Tissue engineering holds great potential in repairing and regenerating damaged tissues and organs. Natural polysaccharide-based materials have received significant emphasis because they are abundant, biocompatible, and mimic the extracellular matrix. There is growing interest in incorporating antibacterial activity to control microbial contamination at regeneration sites and during transplantation. Natural polysaccharides are particularly relevant as they possess inherent antibacterial properties and contain functional groups that facilitate modification and incorporation of antibacterial agents. The incorporation of antibacterial nanoparticles with polysaccharides is an innovative strategy to address the risk of infection and improve post-surgical outcomes, thereby enhancing clinical success rates. This synergy not only strengthens antibacterial properties but also promotes tissue repair and regeneration, paving the way for developing antibacterial nanocomposite materials for diverse tissue engineering applications. These nanocomposite materials have gained significant interest in biomedical applications due to their combined action and properties. This review explores the key synergistic effect of natural polysaccharides and nanoparticles, emphasizing their antibacterial properties. Furthermore, it examines recent advancements in various tissue-engineering applications like oral, skin and bone tissue repair. An alarming increase in bacterial infections necessitates advanced strategies with clinical efficiency to improve patient outcomes. This review aims to explore antibacterial nanocomposite materials with the potential to combat bacterial infections.