From Seaweed to Science: Alginate Scaffolds in Shaping the Future of Tissue Engineering
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, WB, India
- 2Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, JIS University, Agarpara, Kolkata 700109, WB, India
- 3Faculty of Medicine, Apollonia University of Iasi, 700055 Iasi, Romania
- 4Academy of Romanian Scientists, 050045 Bucharest, Romania
Abstract
Alginate, a natural polysaccharide primarily derived from brown seaweed, is a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility, mild gelation conditions, and tunable physicochemical properties. Alginate-based scaffolds can support cell encapsulation and the localized delivery of therapeutic agents, making them suitable for diverse regenerative applications. Recent advances in crosslinking strategies, chemical modification, nanocomposite incorporation, and fabrication techniques such as three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting have improved scaffold stability, bioactivity, and functional performance. These developments have expanded the potential applications of alginate-based scaffolds in bone, cartilage, skin, neural, and cardiac tissue engineering. However, limitations associated with intrinsic cell adhesion, mechanical strength, and degradation control remain important challenges. Although preclinical studies have demonstrated promising results in several tissue-engineering applications, further investigation is needed to establish long-term functional outcomes, safety, and clinical efficacy. This review discusses the evolving role of alginate scaffolds, from marine-derived hydrogels to engineered biomaterial platforms, and highlights their potential and remaining challenges in next-generation tissue regeneration.
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BibTeX
@article{saha2026from,
title = {{From Seaweed to Science: Alginate Scaffolds in Shaping the Future of Tissue Engineering}},
author = {Koushik Saha and Konkona Belel and Santanu Singh and Shounak Sarkhel and Ranu Biswas and Delia Mihaela Rata and Leonard Ionut Atanase},
journal = {Molecules},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31213957},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3957},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - From Seaweed to Science: Alginate Scaffolds in Shaping the Future of Tissue Engineering
AU - Koushik Saha
AU - Konkona Belel
AU - Santanu Singh
AU - Shounak Sarkhel
AU - Ranu Biswas
AU - Delia Mihaela Rata
AU - Leonard Ionut Atanase
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - Molecules
DO - 10.3390/molecules31213957
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/21/3957
AB - Alginate, a natural polysaccharide primarily derived from brown seaweed, is a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility, mild gelation conditions, and tunable physicochemical properties. Alginate-based scaffolds can support cell encapsulation and the localized delivery of therapeutic agents, making them suitable for diverse regenerative applications. Recent advances in crosslinking strategies, chemical modification, nanocomposite incorporation, and fabrication techniques such as three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting have improved scaffold stability, bioactivity, and functional performance. These developments have expanded the potential applications of alginate-based scaffolds in bone, cartilage, skin, neural, and cardiac tissue engineering. However, limitations associated with intrinsic cell adhesion, mechanical strength, and degradation control remain important challenges. Although preclinical studies have demonstrated promising results in several tissue-engineering applications, further investigation is needed to establish long-term functional outcomes, safety, and clinical efficacy. This review discusses the evolving role of alginate scaffolds, from marine-derived hydrogels to engineered biomaterial platforms, and highlights their potential and remaining challenges in next-generation tissue regeneration.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -