Avian eggs offer a natural and environmentally
friendly source
of raw materials, and many of their components hold great potential
in tissue engineering. An avian egg consists of several beneficial
elements: the protective eggshell, the eggshell membrane, the egg
white (albumen), and the egg yolk (vitellus). The eggshell is mostly
composed of calcium carbonate and has intrinsic biological properties
that stimulate bone repair. It is a suitable precursor for the synthesis
of hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate, which are particularly relevant
to bone tissue engineering. The eggshell membrane is a thin protein-based
layer with a fibrous structure composed of several valuable biopolymers,
such as collagen and hyaluronic acid, also found in the human extracellular
matrix. As a result, the eggshell membrane has found several applications
in skin tissue repair and regeneration. The egg white is a protein-rich
material that is under investigation for the design of functional
protein-based hydrogel scaffolds. The egg yolk, composed mainly of
lipids, also contains diverse essential nutrients (e.g., proteins,
minerals, and vitamins) and has potential applications in wound healing
and bone tissue engineering. This review summarizes the advantages
and status of egg components in tissue engineering and regenerative
medicine as well as their current limitations and future perspectives.