Egg White-Based Biomaterials: Morphological Architectures and Emerging Biomedical Applications

Egg white (EW) has emerged as a versatile natural biomaterial due to its wide availability, low cost, biodegradability, intrinsic bioactivity, and protein-derived gel- and film-forming capabilities. However, the existing literature has largely addressed EW-based biomaterials in terms of individual fabrication methods or specific applications, while comprehensive evaluations linking processing strategies to the resulting morphology, physicochemical properties, and biomedical functions remain limited. In this review, EW-based biomaterials are critically evaluated through an integrated processing, structure, property, and function framework encompassing molecular composition, fabrication strategies, morphological organization, physicochemical behavior, and biomedical performance. The molecular interactions and processing-dependent structural changes in major EW proteins, including ovalbumin, ovotransferrin, ovomucoid, ovomucin, and lysozyme, are discussed, and physical gelation, chemical and enzymatic crosslinking, chemical functionalization, and polymer/nanomaterial hybridization are compared as major fabrication approaches. These strategies enable the development of diverse morphologies, including hydrogels, nano/microparticles, films and membranes, micro/nanofibers, porous sponges, cryogels, and 3D-printed constructs, which provide distinct functional advantages in tissue engineering, 3D cell culture, wound healing, drug and bioactive molecule delivery, bioprinting, and biosensing. Particular emphasis is placed on the roles of crosslink density, porosity, swelling behavior, mechanical properties, degradation, and molecular transport in governing cellular responses and overall biomedical performance. Despite these advantages, batch-to-batch variability, the limited mechanical robustness of native protein networks, sterilization and storage constraints, and potential allergenicity and immunogenicity remain major barriers to clinical translation. Future research should therefore focus on standardized protein formulations, application-specific hybrid networks, advanced biofabrication approaches, and comprehensive long-term biosafety studies to enhance the translational potential of EW-based biomaterials.