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Among all the microbial gums used today, dextran is the first example of a microbial biopolymer to be used for pharmaceutical applications. It was used as a plasma volume expander since 1953 [47]. In recent times, hydrogel form of microbial gums has been used for a different biomedical purpose. Hydrogels are 3D scaffolds made from biomaterials, which provide a suitable microenvironment for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The basic advantages of hydrogels are that they are biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic, and have flexibility similar to human tissue. Microbial gums like xanthan, gellan, and dextran are mostly used for hydrogel preparation. Composite hydrogels or blends using two or more gums are used for biomedical applications with superior properties. Some applications of microbial gums used as hydrogels are seen in tissue engineering used as scaffolds, in wound healing as skin barricade due to their adhesive properties, and in drug delivery [1].

Gellan gum hydrogel with magnesium‐enriched calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate using urease‐mediated mineralization was used for bone regeneration application [41]. Bioactive molecule curcumin was grafted on a hyaluronic‐acid‐modified pullulan polymer. In vitro studies showed no cytotoxicity, enhanced cell proliferation, antioxidative effect, and antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. In vivo studies on Wistar rats showed enhanced wound healing compared with only hyaluronic acid and pullulan polymer [42]. Gellan gum infused with a bioactive glass (BAG) used to encapsulate human adipose stem cells for osteogenic differentiation, displayed increased cell viability, improved mechanical properties, and strong bone mineralization [48]. A chitosan and xanthan gum‐based hydrogel was used for drug delivery of the antiviral drug acyclovir. Parameters such as swelling dynamics and entrapment efficiency were studied, and the results concluded the potential for such hydrogel for the efficient antiviral drug delivery [49].