Innovative applications of sulfated polysaccharides from macroalgae in hydrogels and biomaterials production

David Encinas-Basurto; Jorge Marquez-Escalante; Anselmo Miranda-Baeza; Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán; David Encinas-Basurto; Jorge Marquez-Escalante; Anselmo Miranda-Baeza; Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán

doi:10.3934/bioeng.2025026

AIMS Bioengineering

2025, Volume 12, Issue 4: 556-592. doi: 10.3934/bioeng.2025026

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Review

Innovative applications of sulfated polysaccharides from macroalgae in hydrogels and biomaterials production

1.
Research Center for Food and Development, CIAD, A.C., Carretera a La Victoria Km. 0.6, Hermosillo, Sonora 83304, Mexico
2.
Nanotechnology Program, Department of Physics, Universidad de Sonora, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico
3.
Laboratory of Cultivation Technologies of Marine Organisms, State University of Sonora, Blvd. Manlio Fabio Beltrones No. 810, Col. Bugambilias, 85875 Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico

Received: 17 September 2025 Revised: 01 November 2025 Accepted: 20 November 2025 Published: 27 November 2025

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) produced by macroalgae, including fucoidan, carrageenan, and ulvan, are emerging as promising materials for biomedical and economic uses. Their distinct physicochemical characteristics make them very attractive. These natural compounds are not only biocompatible but also have incredible bioactivities, such as anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. This versatility makes it feasible for use in tissue engineering, wound healing, and pharmaceutical delivery systems. In addition to their well-known anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, in this review, we emphasized explicitly how the molecular structure and sulfation pattern of SPs control their crosslinking behavior and stimulus responsiveness. We incorporated new developments in 3D bioprinting, electrospinning, and ionic and thermal gelation, demonstrating how these manufacturing processes enable precise control over printability, mechanical properties, and drug release kinetics. The novelty of this work lies in presenting SPs not merely as passive matrices, but as active, tunable components that bridge marine polysaccharide chemistry with advanced biomaterial engineering. Overall, we present an innovative conceptual framework that describes macroalgal SPs as active, tunable, and sustainable components for cutting-edge biomedical technologies, linking materials engineering and marine biotechnology to influence drug delivery and regenerative medicine in the future.
- sulfated polysaccharides,
- biomaterials,
- 3D printing,
- microneedles
Citation: David Encinas-Basurto, Jorge Marquez-Escalante, Anselmo Miranda-Baeza, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán. Innovative applications of sulfated polysaccharides from macroalgae in hydrogels and biomaterials production[J]. AIMS Bioengineering, 2025, 12(4): 556-592. doi: 10.3934/bioeng.2025026

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Abstract

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) produced by macroalgae, including fucoidan, carrageenan, and ulvan, are emerging as promising materials for biomedical and economic uses. Their distinct physicochemical characteristics make them very attractive. These natural compounds are not only biocompatible but also have incredible bioactivities, such as anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. This versatility makes it feasible for use in tissue engineering, wound healing, and pharmaceutical delivery systems. In addition to their well-known anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, in this review, we emphasized explicitly how the molecular structure and sulfation pattern of SPs control their crosslinking behavior and stimulus responsiveness. We incorporated new developments in 3D bioprinting, electrospinning, and ionic and thermal gelation, demonstrating how these manufacturing processes enable precise control over printability, mechanical properties, and drug release kinetics. The novelty of this work lies in presenting SPs not merely as passive matrices, but as active, tunable components that bridge marine polysaccharide chemistry with advanced biomaterial engineering. Overall, we present an innovative conceptual framework that describes macroalgal SPs as active, tunable, and sustainable components for cutting-edge biomedical technologies, linking materials engineering and marine biotechnology to influence drug delivery and regenerative medicine in the future.

Acknowledgments

David Encinas-Basurto acknowledges the financial support for his Postdoctoral fellowship from SECIHTI. SECIHTI provided funding for this study under grant number 319684 to E. Carvajal-Millan.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán and David Encinas-Basurto; methodology, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán and David Encinas-Basurto; software, David Encinas-Basurto; validation, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán and Jorge Marquez-Escalante; formal analysis, Jorge Marquez-Escalante, Anselmo Miranda-Baeza, and David Encinas-Basurto; investigation, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán and David Encinas-Basurto; resources, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán; data curation, Jorge Marquez-Escalante, Anselmo Miranda-Baeza, and Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán; writing—original draft preparation, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán and David Encinas-Basurto; writing—review and editing, David Encinas-Basurto and Jorge Marquez-Escalante; visualization, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán and David Encinas-Basurto; supervision, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán; project administration, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán; funding acquisition, Elizabeth Carvajal-Millán. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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