Ficus carica Extract Loaded 3D-Printed Sodium Alginate/Guar Gum Scaffolds for Potential Wound Healing Applications:...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Wound Healing Technologies

Background:

• Severe skin burns cause fibroblast cell death, delaying wound healing.
• Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers precise fabrication of wound dressings with bioactive agents.
• Developing advanced wound care solutions is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a novel 3D-printed scaffold for chronic wound treatment.
• To evaluate the efficacy of a sodium alginate, guar gum, and Ficus carica blend for wound healing.
• To assess the biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity of the developed scaffold.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of sodium alginate (Na-ALG), guar gum (GG), and Ficus carica (FC) ink for Direct Ink Write (DIW) 3D printing.
• Characterization of scaffold rheology, morphology, swelling, and layer fidelity.
• Assessment of gallic acid release, antibacterial activity, fibroblast biocompatibility, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release.

Main Results:

• The Na-ALG/GG/FC scaffolds exhibited favorable rheological properties and print fidelity.
• Scaffolds demonstrated controlled swelling, biodegradability, and gallic acid release.
• Significant antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was observed.
• High fibroblast biocompatibility (109% on Day 7) and VEGF release indicating angiogenesis were confirmed.

Conclusions:

• The developed Na-ALG/GG/FC 3D-printed scaffolds show promise for chronic wound healing.
• The combination of natural polymers and plant extract provides antibacterial and pro-regenerative properties.
• This innovative scaffold represents a potential advanced therapeutic option for complex wounds.