AUTHOR=Ishfaq Bushra , Khan Ikram Ullah , Khalid Syed Haroon , Asghar Sajid 

TITLE=Design and evaluation of sodium alginate-based hydrogel dressings containing Betula utilis extract for cutaneous wound healing

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1042077

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2023.1042077

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=Traditional wound dressings have limited capacity to absorb exudates, permeable to microbes and may adhere to wounds, which leads to secondary injuries. Hydrogels are promising alternative dressings to overcome above challenges. In this study, we developed sodium alginate based hydrogel films loaded with Betula utilis bark extract. These films were developed by solvent casting crosslinking method and evaluated for wound healing activity. Prepared films were 0.05-0.083mm thick, flexible with folding endurance ranging from 197-203 folds that indicates good physical properties. Optimized formulations exhibited successful loading of extract in film matrix without any interaction as confirmed by FTIR. Maximum zone of inhibition against gram positive and gram negative bacteria was achieved by optimum formulation (B6) i.e. 19 mm and 9 mm respectively with ˃ 90 % scavenging activity. Furthermore, this optimum formulation (B6) was able to achieve 93% wound contraction rats. Histograms of optimized formulation treated group also revealed complete reepithelization of wound. Conclusively, our extract-loaded hydrogel dressing  has successfully demonstrated its potential for cutaneous wound healing.