Pectin-Based Composites in Tissue Engineering

The natural polymer pectin, an acidic heteropolysaccharide present in the cell walls of plants, particularly fruits, is currently acquiring the attention of researchers in the field of biomedicine due to its remarkable physicochemical properties, availability, low cost, and non-toxicity. Pectin is a versatile biomaterial with multiple applications as drug and growth factor delivery carriers, hydrogels, nanoparticles, composites, scaffolds, and 3D-printing inks. These composites and scaffolds interact with the host cells and support cell adhesion, proliferation, and tissue remodelling by mimicking the extracellular matrix in vivo. Apart from the exceptional biocompatibility and biodegradability, pectin’s indispensable attributes, such as anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory functions, and tunable mechanisms expand its use in tissue engineering to stimulate tissue regeneration. The pectin composites are propitious in supporting sustained drug and growth factor delivery, bone, cartilage, and skin tissue engineering.