Marine Materials as Bioinks for Biomedical Applications

Marine environment is a rich source of unique materials such as gelatin, alginate, chitosan, collagen, and other biomaterials, presenting a wealth of unrealized potential. This chapter discusses the properties of each bioink derived from marine organisms for biomedical applications. Due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and other exceptional properties of these materials, these make them ideal and desirable in tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound repair, and other biomedical applications. We investigate the properties and extraction methods of a variety of marine-derived materials, with an emphasis on their suitability as bioinks for 3D bioprinting. The chapter highlights how these bioinks can be adapted for specific biomedical applications through functionalization and composite formation, highlighting their benefits and limitations. In addition, the implications of marine bioinks on regulatory frameworks and sustainability are examined. Our review concludes that the incorporation of marine materials as bioinks could represent a significant transition in biomedical research.