Agar as a natural polymer: From culture media to cutting-edge biomedical applications

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.