Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! By
Agar As a Natural Polymer: From Culture Media to Cutting-Edge Biomedical Applications Publisher



Bh Beni Batool HASHEMI ; M Falahati MAHTAB ; Mm Rostamabadi Mohammad MAHDI ; S Navid SEPEHR ; H Rostamabadi HADIS
Authors

Source: Carbohydrate Polymers Published:2025


Abstract

Agar, a natural polysaccharide derived primarily from red algae, has emerged as a versatile/biocompatible material for biomedical applications. Its unique physicochemical attributes, e.g. thermo-reversible gelation, high water retention, and non-toxicity, render it proper for drug delivery systems, wound healing matrices, tissue engineering scaffolds, and 3D bioprinting. In addition to its structural tunability, agar exhibits inherent stability and ease of functionalization, which facilitate the development of smart hydrogels responsive to external stimuli like temperature / pH. Recent advances in combining agar with other biopolymers and nanoparticles have further expanded its applicability in regenerative medicine and controlled drug release. This review explores the key properties of agar, recent progress in its biomedical applications, and future prospects for its clinical translation. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Related Docs
View other Related Docs
1. Algae-Derived Materials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Applications: Current Trends and Future Perspectives, Emergent Materials (2022)
2. Royal Jelly-Enriched Alginate/Gelatin Hydrogel Film for Effective Treatment of Chronic Skin Wounds, Materials Today Communications (2025)
3. Self-Healing Hydrogels From Hyaluronic Acid and Dialdehyde Carboxymethyl Cellulose for Accelerated Wound Healing, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2025)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Jaleh Varshosaz (4)
Monireh Kouhi (3)
Other Related Docs
4. Comparison the Effects of Chitosan and Hyaluronic Acid-Based Thermally Sensitive Hydrogels Containing Rosuvastatin on Human Osteoblast-Like Mg-63 Cells, Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2020)
5. Acceleration of Wound Healing in Rats by Modified Lignocellulose Based Sponge Containing Pentoxifylline Loaded Lecithin/Chitosan Nanoparticles, Gels (2022)
6. Hydrogels and Biohydrogels: Investigation of Origin of Production, Production Methods, and Application, Polymer Bulletin (2023)
7. Platelet Rich Fibrin and Simvastatin-Loaded Pectin-Based 3D Printed-Electrospun Bilayer Scaffold for Skin Tissue Regeneration, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (2024)
8. Alginate-Based Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Marine Drugs (2023)
9. Metal Nanoparticles and Carbohydrate Polymers Team up to Improve Biomedical Outcomes, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy (2023)
10. Gellan Gum–Based Nanocomposite Hydrogels, Application of Gellan Gum as a Biomedical Polymer (2024)
11. Alginate-Based Micro- and Nanosystems for Targeted Cancer Therapy, Marine Drugs (2022)
12. A Brief Review of Hydrogels for Drug Delivery for Different Organs of the Body: Synthesis, Categorization, and Organ-Specific Applications, Nanochemistry Research (2024)
13. Dextran Conjugates in Drug Delivery, Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery (2012)
14. Injectable Gellan Gum/Lignocellulose Nanofibrils Hydrogels Enriched With Melatonin Loaded Forsterite Nanoparticles for Cartilage Tissue Engineering: Fabrication, Characterization and Cell Culture Studies, Materials Science and Engineering C (2020)
15. Peptide-Functionalized Polymeric Nanoparticles for Delivery of Curcumin to Cancer Cells, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology (2024)
16. Bioactive Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms and Nanomaterial Integration: A Review, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology (2025)
17. Delivery of Antibacterial Agents for Wound Healing Applications Using Polysaccharide-Based Scaffolds, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology (2023)
18. Alginate-Based Nanocomposite Incorporating Chitosan Nanoparticles: A Dual-Drug Delivery System for Infection Control and Wound Regeneration, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology (2025)
19. Recent Trends in Three-Dimensional Bioinks Based on Alginate for Biomedical Applications, Materials (2020)
20. A Multifunctional Nanocomposite Spray Dressing of Kappa-Carrageenan-Polydopamine Modified Zno/L-Glutamic Acid for Diabetic Wounds, Materials Science and Engineering C (2020)