Recent Advances in Natural Gum-Based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine: A Review

Abstract

The engineering of tissues under a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment is a great challenge and needs a suitable supporting biomaterial-based scaffold that may facilitate cell attachment, spreading, proliferation, migration, and differentiation for proper tissue regeneration or organ reconstruction. Polysaccharides as natural polymers promise great potential in the preparation of a three-dimensional artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) (i.e., hydrogel) via various processing methods and conditions. Natural polymers, especially gums, based upon hydrogel systems, provide similarities largely with the native ECM and excellent biological response. Here, we review the origin and physico-chemical characteristics of potentially used natural gums. In addition, various forms of scaffolds (e.g., nanofibrous, 3D printed-constructs) based on gums and their efficacy in 3D cell culture and various tissue regenerations such as bone, osteoarthritis and cartilage, skin/wound, retinal, neural, and other tissues are discussed. Finally, the advantages and limitations of natural gums are precisely described for future perspectives in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in the concluding remarks.

Injectable hydrogels for tendon and ligament tissue engineering

“…Although hydrogels have many advantages, traditional hydrogels generally have disadvantages such as poor mechanical properties and weakness after being stressed, which greatly limits their application in T/L tissue (Mohammadinejad et al, 2020). During the mechanical load cycle of many animals, the adhesion of soft connective tissues (such as T/L) on bones of many animals can maintain high toughness (≈800 J m −2 ; Liu et al, 2020).…”

Repositioning Natural Antioxidants for Therapeutic Applications in Tissue Engineering

“…Similar to cellulose, the lignins from forestry biomass can complex with synthetic polymers, for example, polylactic acid (PLA), to fabricate scavenging antioxidant material by [ 51 ] printing. Natural gums, namely marine alginate (ALG) [ 52 ], or plant-derived gum like arabic gum, can provide structural compatibility to the in vivo architecture, and thus are attractive biomaterials for innovative tissue engineering strategies [ 53 ]. Therefore, polymer scaffolds can derive from naturally agricultural products and byproducts [ 37 ], implementing the panel of techniques available for in 3D in vitro culture of mammalian cells.…”

Functionalization of Polymers and Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Antimicrobial Platforms and Drug Carriers

“…Besides, focusing on the other angle, stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems increase the efficacy and decrease the side effects of anticancer agents are attractive platforms for cancer therapy [67,68]. Functionalized polymers can be applied as stimuli-responsive drug carriers [69]. Recently, benzoic-imine cross-linked branched PEI-g-mPEG copolymer with hydrophobic terephthalaldehyde (TPA) molecules has been prepared to deliver indocyanine green (ICG).…”