Advances in Biomedical Applications of Hydrogels from Seaweed-Derived Sulfated Polysaccharides: Carrageenan, Fucoidan, and Ulvan

Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds, including Carrageenan, Fucoidan and Ulvan, are crucial bioactive compounds known for their diverse beneficial properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory, antiviral, and anticoagulant effects. These polysaccharides form hydrogels hold immense promise in biomedicine, particularly in tissue engineering, drug delivery systems and wound healing. This review comprehensively explores the sources and structural characteristics of the three important sulfated polysaccharides extracted from different algae species. It elucidates the gelation mechanisms of these polysaccharides into hydrogels. Furthermore, the biomedical applications of these three sulfated polysaccharide hydrogels in wound healing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering are discussed, highlighting their potential in the biomedicine.