Emerging trends in polysaccharide based cryogel scaffold for skin tissue engineering

Abstract

Skin tissue engineering has emerged as a promising field for developing wound dressings and skin substitutes. Recently, cryogel based scaffolds have gained significant attention due to their biocompatibility, tunable properties and porous structure resembling the native extracellular matrix. Polysaccharides like sodium alginate, chitosan, dextran, and agarose are widely explored for fabricating cryogels due to their inherent biocompatibility and bioactivity. The review begins by highlighting the significance of skin tissue engineering in treating different dermatological conditions and injuries. It then explores the fundamental properties of polysaccharide based cryogel scaffolds, focusing on their biocompatibility, biodegradability, fabrication methods and biomedical applications of polysaccharides based cryogel scaffolds in skin tissue engineering. In addition, it explores the potential of integrating 3D and 4D printing technologies to enhance the functionality of these scaffolds, leading to their widespread adoption in the clinical settings for wound healing and for personalized medicine by offering tailored solutions for tissue repair and regeneration. Overall, this review emphasizes the immense potential of polysaccharide based cryogel scaffolds in advancing the field of skin tissue engineering, offering novel solutions for wound healing, and personalized medicine.