Gum Arabic (GA), a natural, edible hydrocolloid obtained predominantly from Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal, is a highly branched heteropolysaccharide composed mainly of arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, and small proportions of protein. Its unique molecular architecture comprising arabinogalactan (AG), arabinogalactan protein (AGP), and glycoprotein (GP) fractions confers exceptional solubility, emulsification, film-forming capacity, and stability, which underpin its long-standing relevance in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and industrial applications. Renewed scientific interest in GA is driven by its biodegradability, safety, and functional versatility, as well as its growing importance as a sustainable biomaterial. Recent advances have focused on modifying GA to enhance its physicochemical and functional properties. Chemical, physical, and enzymatic approaches including oxidation, cross-linking, esterification, graft-copolymerization, and nanoparticle functionalization have produced derivatives with improved rheological behavior, stability, and targeted performance. Modified GA has demonstrated significant potential in Nano chemistry as a stabilizer and reducing agent for metal nanoparticles, in drug delivery through pH-responsive hydrogels and polysaccharide drug conjugates, and in environmental technologies such as wastewater remediation and semiconductor development. In construction materials, GA acts as a natural binder that improves compressive strength, durability, and water resistance of stabilized earth blocks, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional stabilizers. Beyond industrial applications, GA provides notable health benefits. As a fermentable dietary fiber, it functions as a prebiotic, enhancing mineral absorption and supporting gut microbiota. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and detoxification properties contribute to renal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal protection. Modified GA derivatives, including aldehyde-functionalized and cross-linked forms, have also shown promise for controlled drug release, tissue engineering, and biomedical therapeutics. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the composition, structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, and applications of GA, with emphasis on recent modification strategies that broaden its utility across scientific and industrial domains. The growing development of GA-based materials highlights its potential as a renewable, biocompatible platform for next-generation technological innovations.

This study presents a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of research developments on seaweed cellulose, highlighting global publication trends, research theme evolution, and scientific collaboration networks throughout the 2015-2025 period based on Scopus indexed publication data. The analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software to map research productivity growth, keyword interconnections, collaboration networks between authors, and the geographical distribution of contributing countries and institutions. The results of the study show a significant increase in the number of publications after 2020, reflecting increased academic and industrial interest in cellulose derived from seaweed as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to cellulose from land plants. Most of the research comes from Asia, particularly China, India, and Indonesia, which have abundant marine resources and strong support for the develop ment of marine biotechnology. Research developments show a shift from basic studies focusing on extraction and characterization to advanced applications, such as biomedicine, bioplastics, and en vironmentally friendly packaging. This study also identifies gaps in terms of extraction efficiency, product scale, and analysis of seaweed cellulose structure. From the results of this analysis, it can be concluded that the direction of research on seaweed cellulose is increasingly moving towards environmentally friendly product innovation and sustainable biomaterials.

Fish collagen is gaining attention as a sustainable biomaterial for three-dimensional (3D) scaffold fabrication in tissue engineering. In this study, a biomimetic, one-pot crosslinking strategy for native fish skin collagen was developed and compared with a conventional periodate oxidation-Schiff base approach using oxidized maltose. Both approaches increased viscosity and thermal stability while preserving native structural features. The oxidized maltose-crosslinked collagen demonstrated Schiff-base crosslinking, and the one-pot crosslinking method produced a covalent bond that was not a Schiff base. Precrosslinked collagens were processed into microgels and incorporated into calcium alginate to yield a shear-recovering, extrudable ink suitable for 3D extrusion printing. The printed scaffolds maintained structural resilience under physiological conditions, exhibited shear-recovery behavior confirmed by rheological analysis, and supported high cell viability. To enhance biofunctionality, vascular endothelial growth factor was conjugated to the 3D scaffolds, which were subsequently seeded with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Immunofluorescence staining indicated endothelial lineage differentiation, suggesting that this platform may support the development of vascularized 3D tissue constructs. Impact Statement This study presents a one-pot crosslinking approach to enable three-dimensional extrusion printing of a shear-recovery, precrosslinked fish collagen ink design, eliminating the need for postprinting treatments. Functionalization with vascular endothelial growth factor further enhanced the bioactivity of the printed scaffolds by promoting angiogenic response. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a sustainable and biocompatible strategy that broadens the applicability of fish collagen-based inks for vascularized tissue engineering applications.

Preparation, bioactivities, and application potential of water-soluble cello-oligosaccharides: A review.

Sustainable biomaterials: Sepia prashadi cuttlebone derived phosphorylated chitosan for oral healthcare

From waste to wealth and regeneration: a PRISMA review of sustainable biomaterials for scalable tissue engineering

Plant-based natural polymers are gaining attention as ecofriendly alternatives to synthetic materials with applications in food, biomedical, pharmaceutical, and environmental science. Tragacanth gum (TG), a natural exudate obtained from Astragalus species, represents a unique polysaccharide with a complex molecular structure and distinctive rheological properties. It has been traditionally used for centuries as a stabilizer and emulsifier. Recent advances highlight its potential as a multifunctional biopolymer with industrial and biomedical potential. This review explores the structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, and modification strategies of TG, comparing it with other plant derived gums. Special emphasis is given to its applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, biodegradable packaging, and functional food formulation. Strengths such as biocompatibility and gel-forming ability but challenges remain including variability in quality, limited standardization, and issues with large scale production. Emerging trends, such as nanoformulations, hybrid polymer composites, and smart hydrogels, are also discussed. By positioning TG within the broader context of sustainable biomaterials, this review identifies key research gaps and proposes future directions to advance its role in the green polymer economy.

Keratin as an abundantly available natural protein from sources such as hair, wool, and feathers possesses excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity that support cell growth. Recent advances in extracting, purifying, and characterizing keratin have led to the development of various keratin-based biomaterials, such as fibers, gels, films, and nanoparticles via conventional fabrication methods. However, these biomaterials are often limited by simple geometries, weak mechanical strength, and limited reproducibility. Emerging 3D printing technologies offer a promising alternative, allowing the creation of keratin-based scaffolds with precise architecture, tunable mechanical strength, and reproducible geometries. Despite keratin's abundance and biological advantages, the use of keratin in 3D printing remains relatively underexplored. This review provides a comprehensive overview of keratin's molecular structure and biochemistry, its diverse natural sources, extraction and purification methodologies, and the cross-linking mechanisms (chemical, UV, and enzymatic) used to formulate printable keratin-based inks. Furthermore, it discusses the biomedical applications of keratin-derived bioinks in tissue engineering and additive biomanufacturing, with emphasis on skin and bone regeneration. Combining keratin's biological functionality with the design flexibility of 3D printing offers a sustainable and cost-effective pathway toward next-generation biomaterials for regenerative medicine.

Light-switchable lignin-based nanospheres for photodynamic eradication of drug-resistant pathogens and ROS scavenging.

A polysaccharide-based biopolymer from Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) seeds has attracted growing attention owing to its high degree of galactose substitution and abundance of hydroxyl groups, which distinguish it from many conventional hydrocolloids. In the food industry, fenugreek seed mucilage (FSM) is used to enhance juiciness, improve moisture retention, and extend shelf life, thereby maintaining product quality. In clean-label formulations, FSM serves as a natural thickener, stabilizer, and edible film former while also imparting pharmacological benefits such as hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities in functional foods. Beyond food applications, FSM serves as an eco-friendly clarifier in jaggery production, contributing to environmental remediation by reducing turbidity and aiding in the treatment of sewage and tannery effluents. Its sustainable potential extends further into green coagulation-flocculation processes, biodegradable films, and nanoparticle synthesis. The review systematically highlights FSM's structural and physicochemical attributes, optimization strategies, and expanding role in sustainable food and material sciences.

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.

This study aims to enhance the corrosion resistance and bioactivity of zinc surfaces through the development of chitosan–pistachio shell (CPM) coatings reinforced with Nb2CTx MXene. The approach introduces a sustainable pathway by incorporating waste pistachio shells as a natural, eco-friendly additive within a biopolymer matrix. Comprehensive structural and surface characterizations confirmed the homogeneous dispersion of Nb2CTx and the successful fabrication of the hybrid coating. Electrochemical analyses in simulated body fluid demonstrated that the CPM coatings markedly improved the corrosion protection of zinc by shifting the corrosion potential to more noble values, reducing current density and increasing polarization resistance. Impedance results further indicated enhanced charge transfer resistance and stable diffusion-controlled behavior. The coatings also exhibited stronger adhesion, higher hydrophilicity, and improved surface compatibility. After immersion in simulated body fluid, the formation of a dense apatite layer on the CPM surface confirmed the coating’s excellent bioactivity. These findings demonstrate that Nb2CTx-reinforced CPM coatings significantly enhance the functional performance of zinc, combining corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and mechanical stability. Moreover, the use of pistachio shell waste underscores the potential of sustainable biomaterials in developing environmentally friendly coatings for biomedical applications.

Sustainable biomaterials are essential for advancing tissue engineering. This study investigates the in vivo biocompatibility and regenerative potential of seaweed cellulose (SC) scaffolds derived from Ulva sp. and Cladophora sp. as connective support matrices. SC scaffolds were fabricated using an optimized decellularization process that preserved their distinct porous (Ulva) and fibrous (Cladophora) architectures. Subcutaneous implantation in Sprague–Dawley rats demonstrated minimal foreign body response and successful integration over an eight-week period. Histological analysis revealed architecture-driven healing dynamics: Ulva sp. scaffolds promoted compartmentalized healing, characterized by distributed vascularized connective tissue, while Cladophora sp. scaffolds supported stratified tissue organization with aligned collagen deposition. Both scaffolds exhibited progressive vascularization and reduced foreign body response, with no adverse inflammatory reactions observed. These findings highlight the potential of SC scaffolds for regenerative applications that require tailored tissue responses, while their renewable, marine- origin underscores their potential as sustainable biomaterials in advanced healthcare solutions.

Abstract Diabetes is a chronic disease that significantly impairs skin wound healing. There are not many efficient treatments to improve diabetic wound healing. Hydrogels are sustainable biomaterials used to release drugs on wound beds. In this study, a new hydrogel containing 3‐hydroxytyrosol (HT) which is a polyphenol with antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties was tested for its potential in diabetic wound healing. The hydrogel with HT presented a degradation rate of 99.8% at 24 h in vitro, a peak of HT release at 30 min, and higher scavenging activity at 24 h. In in vitro assays, the hydrogel with HT did not change the cell viability of fibroblasts and macrophages. The hydrogel with HT promoted cell migration and reduced lipid peroxidation in mouse fibroblasts under high glucose conditions. The hydrogel with HT also induced higher levels of interleukin‐10 and heme oxygenase‐1 under low and high glucose conditions in mouse macrophages. Topic application of hydrogel with HT augmented the collagen deposition and reduced the width of granulation tissue 7 days after wounding in diabetic mice. In conclusion, the hydrogel with HT is not cytotoxic, efficiently improves diabetic wound healing and it can be a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of diabetic wounds.

Development of bio-based nanoemulsion and pickering emulsion systems of eucalyptus essential oil stabilized by Persian Gum–HPMC–chitosan biopolymers: Toward industrial applications in functional films and sustainable biomaterials

Over the past years, with the growing interest in sustainable biomaterials, marine collagen has been emerging as an interesting alternative to bovine collagen. It is more easily absorbed by the body and has higher bioavailability. In this study, collagen was extracted from Dicentrarchus labrax (sea bass) skin, a fishery by-product, thus valorizing waste streams while reducing environmental impact. To overcome the intrinsic weak mechanical of collagen, it was combined with chitosan to produce composite scaffolds for skin tissue engineering. The incorporation of collagen proved crucial for scaffold performance: (i) it promoted the formation of an open-pore architecture, favorable for cell infiltration and proliferation; (ii) it enhanced swelling behavior suitable for exudate absorption and maintenance of a moist wound environment; (iii) by tuning the chitosan/collagen ratio, it enabled us to control the degradation rate; (iv) it conferred antioxidant properties; and (iv) by adjusting collagen/chitosan concentrations, it allowed fine-tuning of mechanical properties, ensuring sufficient strength to resist stresses encountered during wound healing. In vitro assays demonstrated that the scaffolds were non-cytotoxic and effectively supported mouse adipose tissue fibroblasts’ adhesion and proliferation. Finally, all formulations exhibited marked bactericidal activity against the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, with a Log reduction greater than 3 (a reduction of at least 99.9% in bacterial growth) compared to the control. Collectively, these findings highlight collagen not only as a sustainable resource but also as a functional component that drives the structural, physicochemical, biological, and antimicrobial performance of chitosan/collagen scaffolds for skin tissue engineering.

Amyloid materials are formed from the aggregation of single proteins, yet contain polymorphisms where bulk properties are defined by a composition of multiple fibril types. Though desirable as a sustainable material, little is known about how various fibril types survive at high temperatures or in nonpolar solvents due to their highly similar molecular and nanoscale features. Here, we demonstrate that in situ two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2DIR), when paired with nanoscale microscopy, can determine the transition temperature of amyloid subpopulations without the use of labels. We use this capability to shed light on the molecular transition mechanism for amyloid polymorphs found in bulk materials formed from model proteins β-Lactoglobulin (β-Lg) and lysozyme. Smaller, worm-like polymorphs are formed initially by both proteins but exhibit stability only up to 80-90 °C, leaving mostly mature fibrils upon further heating. While mature β-Lg fibrils survived all thermal conditions tested (>230 °C), lysozyme fibrils revert to a structured monomeric protein state at 100 °C that could once again form fibrils upon cooling the solution. Molecular mechanisms outlined by our combined techniques shed light on the liquid-solid phase behavior of bulk protein gels and provide new insight toward the development of sustainable biomaterials such as amyloids for practical uses.

Fibrous biomaterials have showed considerable potential in cartilage tissue engineering due to their ability to imitate the structure and characteristics of the original extracellular matrix. Sustainable biomaterials such as chitosan, silk fibroin, and collagen can be produced into a variety of shapes, including hydrogels, scaffolds, and electrospun nanofibers, to develop an optimal milieu for chondrocyte adhesion, proliferation, and cartilage matrix deposition. In recent years, various studies showed that biomaterials-based fiber mats obtained through electrospinning as scaffolds exhibit remarkable chondrocyte growth support. These fiber mats promote high chondrocyte viability and cell proliferation, particularly when thin neutralized fibers are utilized. The biomimetic attributes of these biomaterials obtained from renewable resources such as plants, animals, and microbes have intrinsic benefits such as biocompatibility, microstructure resemblance to the original extracellular matrix, and adjustable mechanical properties. However, there are still hurdles in optimizing scaffold-cell interactions, controlled degradation, stress response, and flexibility for successful clinical translation. As a result, fibrous biomaterials exhibit significant potential for cartilage tissue engineering by promoting chondrocyte adhesion, proliferation, and cartilage matrix deposition. Nonetheless, additional study is required to solve the obstacles and optimize these materials for successful clinical applications.

Recent advancements in glycopolymer-based sustainable biomaterials for biomedical sensing.

This study sought to create and characterize a novel antibiotic-loaded keratin-based film bandage for enhanced wound healing. Using the solvent casting method, keratin from chicken feathers was combined with gelatin (KG) in varying ratios to form films. Chitosan microspheres (Mc) were incorporated to achieve sustained release of bacitracin zinc (BZ). The microspheres were evaluated for particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release kinetics. The optimized film showed a controlled release profile with nearly 76% cumulative drug release over time. Embedding antibiotic-loaded microspheres within the keratin–gelatin matrix enabled prolonged delivery at the wound site, preventing infection and accelerating healing. In vivo excision wound studies demonstrated that the BZ-Mc-KG film achieved complete wound closure by day 20, significantly outperforming the disease control (p < .05). Comparative results indicated that microsphere-loaded gelatin films achieved 90% closure (p < .05), while free drug-loaded keratin–gelatin films reached 98% closure (p < .05). Slower healing was observed with drug-free keratin–gelatin films and standard mupirocin ointment (2.0% w/w). These findings highlight the synergistic potential of chicken feather keratin with BZ, supporting its application as a sustainable biomaterial for advanced wound dressings and effective therapeutic wound care strategies.