Alginate-based biomaterials in orthopedics: What are the prospects for bacterial alginate?

The mini-review explores the potential use of alginates produced biotechnologically by bacteria for the development of various implantable biomaterials intended for bone and cartilage tissue regeneration in orthopedics: the recent studies on the use of algal alginate-based biomaterials in the form of hydrogels, scaffolds, and microparticles for medical applications are considered as a potential opportunity to use bacterial alginate for these applications, taking into account the advantages of biotechnological production of a polymer with desired properties. The methods of producing different alginate-based biomaterials, the manufacturing of implantable medical devices using them, and the surgical techniques for bone and cartilage tissue regeneration using these materials for orthopedic purposes are discussed.