A Review of Natural Gums and Mucilage-Based Hydrogels for Food, Agriculture, Biomedical, and Cosmetics

The growing global demand for eco-friendly and innovative biomaterials has led to the extensive use of natural polymers, such as natural gums and mucilage, in diverse industrial applications, including food, agriculture, biomedical, and cosmetics. These natural polymers are carbohydrate biomolecules derived from various natural sources, including plants, animals, microbes, and marine organisms, that exhibit a broad spectrum of physicochemical characteristics, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and nontoxicity. This review critically examines the chemical composition and elucidates the hydrophilic nature that leads to the formation of hydrogels, which are next-generation biomaterials for the innovation and development of advanced polymeric materials. The unique structural diversity, availability, and functionality make them highly suitable for various applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various natural gums and mucilage that are widely available, including their chemical constituents, structures, possible modifications, properties, crosslinking strategies for hydrogel synthesis, and recent advancements in their applications. The functional properties of natural gums and mucilage-based hydrogels highlight their potential for developing stronger, more natural, and innovative hydrogel products and also suggest future research directions, such as advanced modification techniques, hybrid hydrogel systems, and improvements in stability to support innovative applications and environmental sustainability.