Gum tragacanth and its adaptable composite hydrogels for diverse biomedical applications

Natural polymers are widely utilized in various industries due to their eco-friendly and renewable nature. Naturally occurring polysaccharides, commonly termed gums for their ability to form gels or viscous solutions, are abundant in various plants and trees. Their key advantages include easy availability, low cost, structural diversity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. Additionally, they can be chemically modified for specific applications. Hydrogels derived from these gums exhibit excellent water and exudate absorption capacities, making them ideal biomaterials in regenerative medicine as they can effectively mimic living tissues for use in diverse tissue engineering and biomedical applications. Tragacanth Gum (TG), a natural polysaccharide, has emerged as a versatile and biocompatible material for various biomedical applications. Hydrogels composed of TG and other biomacromolecules have shown excellent wound fluid absorption, sustained drug release, blood compatibility, and impermeability to microorganisms, making them effective wound dressings. TG composite hydrogels have also been explored for encapsulation and delivery of various plant extracts, further highlighting their multifunctionality in biomedicine and pharmaceutical industry. The aim of this review is to focus on various methods to develop TG composites hydrogels, their properties, and biomedical applications. The synergy between their fabrication strategies and composite chemistries offers new avenues for advancing TG-based therapeutic products. Overall, TG’s unique physicochemical properties, biodegradability, and compatibility position it as a promising biomaterial in tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery systems.