Avian eggshell membrane as a material for tissue engineering: A review

Eggshell membrane (ESM) has recently gained interest for various applications in the field of biomedical engineering, materials science and environmental engineering. It is a routinely generated waste material which makes it easily available and an affordable biomaterial. ESM is a protein-rich, thin, fibrous membrane composed of collagen and hyaluronic acid, a composition similar to that found in human tissues. The physicochemical properties of ESM make it suitable for tissue engineering applications such as regeneration of skin, bone, cartilage, tympanic membrane, nerve and blood vessels. Further, ESM has been used either as nanoparticles or as a platform to deliver nanoparticles for various therapeutic applications. The review discusses the intrinsic structural and chemical properties of ESM, the techniques to isolate ESM, the various forms in which it has been used and its varied tissue engineering and nanomedicine applications, thereby highlighting its potential as an ideal natural biomaterial for biomedical applications. It also highlights the challenges to the utility of ESM and the unmet needs.