Marine Sponges and Derived Biopolymers for Regenerative Medicine

Marine sponges possess structural materials and morphological features that make them an ideal source for biomimetic design and development of biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) applications. This chapter highlights the latest advancements in the application of sponge-mimetic biomaterials in biomedical applications, with a particular focus on bone tissue engineering. This chapter emphasizes the bioactive potential of organic components found in marine sponges for TERM applications, ranging from skin to bone regeneration. It comprehensively illustrates the use of marine origin biomaterials for bone replacement and regeneration strategies, as well as the use of natural and fabricated scaffolds with architectures that mimic the three-dimensional interconnected porosity of natural cancellous bone. Additionally, it covers the development of particles and membranes produced using marine origin collagen and their cutting-edge applications. Finally, the chapter provides a perspective on future application of sponge-derived biomaterials in TERM, highlighting their potential to revolutionize the field.