Natural polysaccharide hydrogels: design, preparation, and tissue engineering applications

• This outlines the types and characteristics of natural polysaccharide hydrogels. • It discusses cross-linking strategies and design principles of hydrogels. • Natural polysaccharide hydrogels’ application in tissue engineering is evaluated • This paper analyzes challenges and development directions in clinical translation. Natural polysaccharide hydrogels have garnered significant attention as a biomaterial owing to their ability to mimic the structure of the natural extracellular matrix, providing a suitable microenvironment for cells, and exhibiting favorable bioactivity and controllable biocompatibility. They show considerable potential in promoting tissue regeneration and repair. However, limitations such as insufficient mechanical strength and concerns regarding the safety of their degradation products hinder their clinical translation and application. This review synthesizes contemporary literature on natural polysaccharides from diverse sources, focusing on studies published over the past five years that explore hydrogel design, preparation strategies, and biomedical applications. Among polysaccharide-based hydrogels, chitosan and alginate dominate current applications, but cellulose derivatives show emerging promise. We assess the advantages and limitations of current preparation strategies and outline potential directions for improvement. Furthermore, this review provides a systematic survey of the applications of natural polysaccharide hydrogels in tissue engineering, alongside a rigorous analysis of the challenges to clinical translation. Finally, we propose future development prospects, aiming to provide more detailed understanding in this field and drive progress in related research.