Astaxanthin-Based Biomaterials for Tissue Repair and Drug Delivery Systems

Astaxanthin (AST), a potent bioactive compound known for its exceptional antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic capacities, has been widely applied in advanced biomedical domains, including regenerative tissue engineering and targeted drug delivery systems. However, its chemical instability limits broader applications. To address this issue, various multifunctional biomaterials, such as nanoliposomes, nanoparticles, glass microspheres, and algal calcium beads, have been employed to stabilize AST and enhance its therapeutic efficacy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of AST, examines its mechanisms of action, and discusses the development and biomedical applications of AST-based biomaterials. We demonstrate the excellent properties and potential applications of these biomaterials in various biomedical contexts, outline existing challenges, and propose future directions to optimize their design and advance their clinical translation.