Chitosan and Carrageenan-Based Biocompatible Hydrogel Platforms for Cosmeceutical, Drug Delivery, and Biomedical Applications

Hydrogels are three-dimensional water hungry networks that are currently the focus of intense scientific investigations owing to their potential applications in biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, biosensing, agriculture and cosmetics. Traditional hydrogels are incorporated with toxic cross-linkers, lower drug loading and are shorter in load bearing capacity. Hydrogels demonstrate significant physiochemical modification in reaction to minor fluctuations in surrounding medium. Therefore, diverse cross-linkers, polymer blending, modification in polymers/cross-linkers and addition of reinforcement approaches are used. This review offers a comprehensive overview of application prospects of chitosan and carrageenan-based hydrogel materials in biomedical sector. Initially, properties of hydrogels, their types, impact of natural-synthetic polymer blending, requirement of filler and applications of hydrogels are summarized. Afterward, the applications of chitosan and carrageenan hydrogel platforms for drug delivery, tissue engineering, cosmetics, dentistry and ophthalmic treatment are thoroughly vetted. In conclusion, the extraordinary biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic features of chitosan and carrageenan-based hydrogel systems promote their applicability in biomedical fields.