Sebacic Acid: A Multifunctional Medium-Chain Dicarboxylic Acid in Metabolic Regulation and Tissue Regeneration

Sebacic acid (SA), a ten-carbon medium-chain dicarboxylic acid, has emerged as a multifunctional bioactive metabolite with potential applications in metabolic regulation and regenerative medicine. Evidence indicates that SA exerts anti-inflammatory effects by modulating nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways, improves glucose homeostasis by enhancing mitochondrial function and suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis, and contributes to lipid metabolism via peroxisomal and mitochondrial β-oxidation. Beyond metabolic regulation, SA promotes bone repair by stimulating osteoblast differentiation and inhibiting osteoclast activity, and supports muscle regeneration by enhancing energy supply, cell proliferation, and the microenvironment. SA also serves as a monomer for poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS), enabling its use in biodegradable tissue engineering scaffolds. This review synthesizes current experimental and preclinical findings on the biological functions of SA, elucidates the underlying molecular mechanisms, and highlights its translational potential for the treatment of metabolic disorders and tissue regeneration.