Polysaccharide Hydrogels as Delivery Platforms for Natural Bioactive Molecules: From Tissue Regeneration to Infection Control

: Polysaccharide-based hydrogels have emerged as indispensable materials in tissue engineering and wound healing, offering a unique combination of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural versatility. Indeed, their three-dimensional polymeric network and high water content closely resemble the natural extracellular matrix, creating a microenvironment for cell growth, differentiation, and tissue regeneration. Moreover, their intrinsic biodegradability, tunable chemical structure, non-toxicity, and minimal immunogenicity make them optimal candidates for prolonged drug delivery systems. Notwithstanding numerous advantages, these polysaccharide-based hydrogels are confronted with setbacks such as variability in material qualities depending on their source, susceptibility to microbial contamination, unregulated water absorption, inadequate mechanical strength, and unpredictable degradation patterns which limit their efficacy in real-world applications. This review summarizes recent advancements in the application of polysaccharide-based hydrogels, including cellulose, starch, pectin, zein, dextran, pullulan and hyaluronic acid as innovative solutions in wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Future research should concentrate on optimizing hydrogel formulations to enhance their effectiveness in regenerative medicine and antimicrobial therapy.