Sodium alginate hydrogel loaded with Capparis spinosa L. extract for antimicrobial and antioxidant wound dressing applications

Novel composite hydrogels composed of Capparis spinosa L. extract (CSL) and sodium alginate (SA) were developed for biomedical applications using calcium chloride (CaCl2) as a nontoxic ionic crosslinker. The swelling degree, antioxidant activity, water retention, and biocompatibility of the CSL/SA composite hydrogels were thoroughly analyzed, along with their antibacterial properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated that the CSL/SA composite hydrogels exhibited a three-dimensional porous structure with uniform pore distribution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results suggested that CSL was successfully incorporated into composite hydrogels. When the CSL concentration reached 9 %, the swelling degree attained 765.89 +/- 21.36 %. Furthermore, the addition of CSL enhanced the oxidation resistance of the composite hydrogels. Agar disk diffusion assessments confirmed that the CSL/SA composite hydrogels exhibited significant antibacterial effects against E. coli and S. aureus. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated that the composite hydrogels effectively accelerated cell proliferation. Therefore, these hydrogels show promising potential for application as wound dressings.