Biomedical Applications of Agar and its Composites: A Mini-Review

Abstract

Agar is a flexible biopolymer that forms jelly like consistency when mixed with water. It is extracted from seaweeds by treatment with alkali and can also be synthesized from fructose-6-phosphate. Agar and its composites were found to have applications in drug delivery, wound healing, tumour therapy and hyperthermia treatment. Agar gel formulations have been used for ultrasound imaging since it has the ability to scatter sound waves. It has been investigated that agar has the ability to act as a matrix for modified release of drugs. Agar/collagen composites were found to be useful in healing of wounds, burns and ulcers. Agar also has the ability to act as a matrix for carbonyl iron which is found to have a good thermal conductivity and became useful for the treatment of hyperthermia. This review summarizes the properties, sources, biosynthesis, extraction and recent biomedical applications of agar and its composites.