Seaweed Derived Polysaccharides as Sustainable Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering Applications

The integration of marine-derived biomaterials has given new directions for fabricating scaffolds that support and influence tissue engineering. Among these, seaweed-derived polysaccharides, such as alginate, agarose, carrageenan, ulvan, laminarin, and fucoidan, present a distinctive combination of structural diversity, functional versatility, and natural abundance. Unlike many synthetic biomaterials, these polysaccharides possess inherent bioactivity, including antioxidant properties and cell signaling cues. These properties can be further tailored through chemical or physical modifications or by combination with other natural or synthetic polymers to suit specific regenerative applications. Fabrication techniques such as 3D printing, electrospinning, microbeads, and hydrogel casting are used to improve the functional outcomes of the scaffolds. Moreover, macroalgae-derived polysaccharides have low-cost production and are environmentally sustainable, making them a preferred choice for clinical applications. This review elaborates on recent advances in the use of seaweed-derived polysaccharide scaffolds for soft and hard tissue engineering. Future efforts should focus on enhancing their clinical translation through deeper biological insights and scalable fabrication.