Polysaccharide hydrogels for regenerative medicine applications

This chapter begins by reviewing the structure and origin of polysaccharides commonly used in hydrogels and then moves on to a brief discussion of the role of structural polysaccharides throughout tissues in the body. Common chemical modification techniques are discussed, followed by approaches used to crosslink polysaccharides into insoluble hydrogels. The authors will also describe recent research approaches for polysaccharide hydrogel materials as scaffolds for tissue engineering, vehicles for drug delivery, and tissue adhesives. The goal of this chapter is to provide the reader with an overview of the exciting potential of polysaccharide-based hydrogels in medicine.