Fabrication and characterization of alginate/chitosan hydrogel combined with honey and aloe vera for wound dressing applications

Hydrogels can be one of the best polymeric wound dressings due to the desirable properties of wound healing. In this study, emphasizing the use of natural biomaterials such as Aloe vera and honey in the structure of cross‐linked polymers, a novel hydrogel was produced that might be applied to healing wounds. In the beginning, four hydrogel groups were made from a combination of Sodium Alginate and Chitosan with Aloe vera extract and honey in optimum concentrations. Then the structure of those was evaluated by SEM and FTIR. After confirming hydrogels' structural properties, their physical properties, including swelling, porosity, density, mass loss, stability, and WVTR, were examined. Besides, the hydrogel biocompatibility was assessed by analyzing the cell viability and hemolytic activity. Adhesion of the cells to the hydrogel was also observed by SEM imaging. The results showed that the designed hydrogel has a porous structure with interconnected cavities, which their size can provide suitable conditions for cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Also, their physical and structural properties can be a strong suit to wound healing. Although honey's application can weaken the hydrogel structure, honey has beneficial properties due to its complex biomolecules. In contrast, Aloe vera in hydrogel generally improved the hydrogel's specificity for wound healing. According to the results of this study, taking advantage of hydrogels containing honey and Aloe vera based on alginate and chitosan polymers led to the formation of an acceptable structure and biocompatibility that can be used in future researches to repair tissues, especially wounds. In this study, a hydrogel‐based on alginate and chitosan polymers was made. Additionally, in this hydrogel, compounds of honey and aloe vera extract in optimal concentrations have been applied. SEM, FTIR, Porosity, Density, Swelling, Stability, WVTR, Contact angle, and mass loss tests were performed to prove the physical and chemical properties of the hydrogel. Antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and cell attachment were evaluated to depicted the potential of applying the hydrogel as a wound dressing. As a result, the hydrogel executed has acceptable properties for use as a wound dressing.