Plant-based biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for tissue engineering applications

Tissue engineering has emerged as a potential area in regenerative medicine, leveraging biodegradable and biocompatible polymers to fabricate scaffolds for cell growth and tissue regeneration. Among biomaterials, plant-based polymers have garnered significant attention due to their sustainability, biocompatibility, and suitable mechanical properties. This review emphasises the innovative modifications in natural polymers such as fungal chitosan, nanocellulose composites, and hybrid plant-synthetic scaffolds-that address longstanding challenges in mechanical stability, degradation control, and bioactivity. By systematically comparing polysaccharides (e.g., cellulose, alginate) and proteins (soy, zein) across bone, cartilage, and wound healing applications, we identify structure-function relationships that enable tailored scaffold design. Finally, this review critically evaluates recent advances in plant-based polymers for tissue engineering, highlighting innovative modifications and unresolved challenges providing actionable strategies to advance plant derived biomaterials towards clinical transition.