The average life expectancy in developed countries has increased over the last two centuries, though it has not been concurrent with a healthy longevity. Susceptibility of the long-lived societies to frequent unhealthy conditions is now a concerning factor in such societies. As a consequence, the emergence of tissue engineering technology has been inevitable. Regenerative medicine enables regeneration and replacement of damaged organs and tissues, as well as healing of wounds, ulcers, and burns.

The growing demand for regenerative medicine applications that have minimal invasiveness has led the researchers’ intense focus to seek for an establishment of a method by which in situ crosslinking of cellular scaffolds or compressibility of the scaffolds is possible. In this seminar; studies on ionic crosslinking of alginate by CaCO₃, CaSO₄ and CaCl₂ cross-linkers will be presented along with their physical properties analysis by the mechanical compressing test as well as degradation study of the hydrogel. Degradation profile of covalently cross-linked alginate, which allows compression, will also be presented.