From waste to wealth and regeneration: a PRISMA review of sustainable biomaterials for scalable tissue engineering

The pursuit of sustainable and eco-friendly solutions in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) has led to an increasing focus on waste-derived biomaterials. This PRISMA-guided systematic review evaluates current research on the fabrication, biological performance, scalability, and translational challenges of natural biomaterials sourced from marine, agricultural, and food processing wastes. Evidence from eighteen studies published between 2015 and 2025 demonstrates that waste materials such as shrimp shells, fish scales, seaweed, rice husks, and food peels can be effectively transformed into biocompatible, biodegradable scaffolds through scalable methods including demineralization, freeze-drying, electrospinning, and bioprinting. These scaffolds exhibit tissue-specific mechanical properties, favorable degradation profiles, and high cell viability, supporting tissue regeneration across bone, cartilage, skin, and soft tissues. The review highlights the potential of waste valorization for circular economy strategies, contributing to environmental sustainability while advancing regenerative therapies. Nonetheless, challenges such as process standardization, quality control, long-term safety, and regulatory pathways remain critical hurdles to clinical translation. Addressing these issues through technological innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration will be essential to harness the full potential of waste-derived biomaterials as scalable, sustainable solutions in regenerative medicine.