Chilwant Mansi, Paganini Valentina, Di Gangi Mariacristina, Brignone Sofia Gisella, Chetoni Patrizia, Burgalassi Susi, Monti Daniela, Tampucci Silvia
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 33, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Interdepartmental Center of Marine Pharmacology, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Jul 23;18(8):1093. doi: 10.3390/ph18081093.
Marine biomass represents a valuable yet underexploited resource for the development of high-value biomaterials. Recent advances have highlighted the significant potential of marine-derived polysaccharides, proteins, and peptides in biomedical applications, most notably in drug delivery and wound healing. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current research on the extraction, processing and pharmaceutical valorization of these biopolymers, with a focus on their structural and functional properties that allow these materials to be engineered into nanocarriers, hydrogels, scaffolds, and smart composites. Key fabrication strategies such as ionic gelation, desolvation, and 3D bioprinting are critically examined for their role in drug encapsulation, release modulation, and scaffold design for regenerative therapies. The review also covers preclinical validation, scale-up challenges, and relevant regulatory frameworks, offering a practical roadmap from sustainable sourcing to clinical application. Special attention is given to emerging technologies, including stimuli-responsive biomaterials and biosensor-integrated wound dressings, as well as to the ethical and environmental implications of marine biopolymer sourcing. By integrating materials science, pharmaceutical technology and regulatory insight, this review aims to provide a multidisciplinary perspective for researchers and industrial stakeholders seeking sustainable and multifunctional pharmaceutical platforms for precision medicine and regenerative therapeutics.
海洋生物质是开发高价值生物材料的宝贵但未充分利用的资源。最近的进展突出了海洋来源的多糖、蛋白质和肽在生物医学应用中的巨大潜力，最显著的是在药物递送和伤口愈合方面。本综述全面综合了当前关于这些生物聚合物的提取、加工和药物增值的研究，重点关注其结构和功能特性，这些特性使这些材料能够被设计成纳米载体、水凝胶、支架和智能复合材料。对离子凝胶化、去溶剂化和3D生物打印等关键制造策略在药物封装、释放调节和再生疗法支架设计中的作用进行了批判性研究。综述还涵盖了临床前验证、扩大规模的挑战以及相关监管框架，提供了从可持续采购到临床应用的实用路线图。特别关注新兴技术，包括刺激响应性生物材料和集成生物传感器的伤口敷料，以及海洋生物聚合物采购的伦理和环境影响。通过整合材料科学、制药技术和监管见解，本综述旨在为寻求用于精准医学和再生疗法的可持续和多功能制药平台的研究人员和行业利益相关者提供多学科视角。
