Chapter 9 - Hydrogels based on carrageenan

Abstract

With its innumerable features, carrageenan and its associated hydrogels are a group of promising candidates for various biomedical applications. The requirement of smart drug delivery platforms and solutions for various biomedical needs finds a great scope in these natural polysaccharides. Strong negative charge, unique gelling mechanism, the abundance of functional groups, and strong water absorption property make this seaweed-derived, natural, sulfated, linear polysaccharide a versatile candidate for sustained and controlled drug delivery applications. Carrageenan has extensive applications in the field of drug delivery as well as in the fields of tissue engineering and wound healing. The abundance of functional groups opens ample scope for chemical modification for the enhancement of the physicochemical properties of the hydrogel. In this chapter, we outline the diverse applications of carrageenan in the fields of tissue engineering, drug delivery, and wound healing. The recent progress made by carrageenan-based hydrogels highlighted in this chapter reaffirms the fact that carrageenan and related hydrogels are effective biomaterials for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.