Science and Technology Production
Recent advances in the use of gelatin as a biomaterial for tissue engineering

Article

Authorship
Maeso, Lidia ; Antezana, Pablo Edmundo ; MUNICOY, SOFIA ; Zarate, Jon ; Lertxundi, Unax ; Mishra, Yogendra Kumar ; Dolatshahi-Pirouz, Alireza ; Desimone, Martín Federico ; Orive, Gorka
Date
2026
Publishing House and Editing Place
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Magazine
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Summary Information provided by the agent in SIGEVA
The continuous advancement of tissue engineering demands the development of novel biomaterials and strategies to create functional and translational tissue constructs. Despite the emergence of new materials, gelatin remains one of the most practical and versatile, widely used biomaterials, combining biocompatibility, tunable properties, and ease of processing, while its biodegradability and derivation from circular economy resources further position it as a sustainable option. This review unfol... The continuous advancement of tissue engineering demands the development of novel biomaterials and strategies to create functional and translational tissue constructs. Despite the emergence of new materials, gelatin remains one of the most practical and versatile, widely used biomaterials, combining biocompatibility, tunable properties, and ease of processing, while its biodegradability and derivation from circular economy resources further position it as a sustainable option. This review unfolds the recent trends in gelatin uses across three key areas. First, advances in functionalization, including chemical modifications that enhance mechanical properties and enable smart, self-healing systems, as well as hybridization with natural, synthetic, or inorganic components to expand multifunctionality. Second, innovations in fabrication techniques, from lyophilization and electrospinning to 3D and 4D bioprinting, which allow precise architectural control and patient-specific scaffold design. Third, emerging applications in tissue engineering, demonstrating the latest achievements of gelatin-based hydrogels, nanoparticles, and composites for skin, soft tissue, bone, cartilage, and ocular regeneration, including drug delivery and stimulus-responsive platforms. As predicted in previous reports on gelatin use, this versatile biomaterial continues to be one of the most widely applied and highly valued materials for tissue engineering purposes.
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Key Words
HYDROGELGELATINREGENERATIVE MEDICINETISSUE ENGINEERINGBIOMATERIAL