This study sought to improve the handling, stability to aqueous medium and healing properties of alginate-based three-dimensional structures to be applied as wound scaffolds. Thus, Ca-alginate was plasticized with PEG-methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and blended with the freeze-dried gel of A. vera and aqueous leaves extracts of M. oleifera. Ca-alginate-PEGMA scaffolds remained structurally stable almost four times longer than pure alginate materials, while a high porous architecture required for tissue scaffolding applications was maintained after alginate plasticization with PEGMA. A. vera increased the water uptake capability of the scaffolds and M. oleifera provided antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory properties and antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. Blending 1% (w/v) A. vera and 1% (w/v) M. oleifera with Ca-alginate-PEGMA, significantly increased the scaffolds cell proliferation (after 10 days of evaluation), compared with scaffolds without plant extracts. The experimental results showed that Ca-alginate-PEGMA/A. vera/M. oleifera biocomposites have great potential for wound healing applications.
Keywords: Alginate; Aloe vera; Moringa oleifera; Plasticization; Scaffolds; Wound healing.
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