Sulfated Galactans From Red Algae: Cutting‐Edge Extraction, Purification, Structural Characterization, Bioactivities, and Biomedical Applications: A Review

ABSTRACT

The red algal sulfated galactans (SGs), which are primarily agarans and carrageenans are a structurally diverse group of marine polysaccharides with a remarkable biofunctional and physicochemical versatility. The review synthesizes the current developments in their extraction, purification, and structural clarification with the focus on the shift towards the advanced green procedures including enzyme‐, ultrasound‐, and microwave‐assisted extraction. The unique sulfation patterns, molecular weight patterns and glycosidic linkages of the SGs are critically analyzed to determine their structure‐function relationships and biological processes. The review also discusses the biomedical potential of SGs in tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery and regenerative medicine as well as its new use in environmental remediation, cosmeceuticals and smart medical materials. Specific focus is given to functional derivatization, multi‐omics integration, and nanotechnological methods on the personalization of SG‐based biomaterials. The translational issues, such as source variability, inconsistency in regulations, and scalability limits are also evaluated. In general, this article is an extensive interdisciplinary overview and suggests a road map to connect the molecular engineering, sustainability, and bioeconomy models to fulfill the therapeutic and industrial capacities of red algal SGs.