Next-generation multifunctional scaffolds for diabetic foot ulcers: Harnessing moringa bioactives and nanotechnology

Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) are a serious global health crisis, mainly because of persistent bacterial biofilm formation and the rise of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Current therapeutic strategies are less effective and fail to resolve the core challenges of multidrug resistance and defective tissue regeneration. These limitations require the development of multifunctional therapeutic systems. This review discusses a dual-action platform - Moringa based smart scaffolds. These scaffolds are designed to provide a targeted solution for MRSA infected DFUs. The therapeutic potential lies in Moringa oleifera's rich phytochemical profile, which demonstrates potent antimicrobial, antioxidant and pro-healing activities. This approach addresses key limitations of crude phytochemical formulations, including instability and poor bioavailability. The review highlights the strategic integration of these bioactives into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are integrated into electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds, which not only provide an extracellular matrix (ECM) mimicking structure to support cell adhesion and angiogenesis but also enable controlled, sustained and stimuli-responsive release of the Moringa payload. The systems are engineered to respond to the acidic and ROS-rich microenvironment of chronic wounds. Combining phytochemicals with nanoparticle-based scaffold will improve infection control and wound repair in chronic DFUs.