Photocrosslinked Natural Polysaccharide Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine: Progress and Applications

Regenerative medicine, an emerging multidisciplinary field, aims to repair or replace damaged or dysfunctional tissues and organs. Natural polysaccharide hydrogels, characterized by a three-dimensional porous structure analogous to human tissues, have been extensively utilized in biomedical applications. Hydrogels fabricated from natural polysaccharides via photopolymerization enable the formation of scaffolds with precise three-dimensional architectures. Exhibiting excellent biocompatibility, controlled degradability, and tunable mechanical and physicochemical properties, these photopolymerized polysaccharide hydrogels can construct tissue-adaptable microenvironments matching the physiological requirements of specific tissues to support cellular activities and tissue regeneration. Consequently, their applications in tissue engineering and controlled drug release have garnered significant attention, demonstrating considerable potential across various contexts. This review, based on an analysis of domestic and international literature, summarizes the latest research progress on natural polysaccharide-based photocrosslinked hydrogels in regenerative medicine. Emphasis is placed on the specific properties of these hydrogels and their emerging therapeutic applications in tissue regeneration, including skin, bone, and nerve repair.