Exploring the microstructure, antibacterial, and antioxidant features of Boswellia serrate extract -loaded Alginate/Gelatin porous Scaffolds for medical application

This study developed a novel sponge-like hydrogel composed of sodium alginate and gelatin (ALG/GEL) for the incorporation of Boswellia serrata extract (BSE), a promising bioactive agent for tissue regeneration. The synthesized BSE-loaded ALG/GEL scaffolds using emulsion freeze drying method. The obtained emulsion samples were characterized by TEM and DLS. The BSE nanoparticles exhibited an average diameter ranging from 196 ± 52 nm to 368 ± 142 nm, dependent on the BSE content. The bioactivity of the scaffolds was confirmed through a DPPH radical scavenging assay. The pure BSE extract demonstrated significant dose-dependent antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ value of 72 μg/mL, confirming its inherent potency, though it was lower than the ascorbic acid positive control (IC₅₀ = 17.9 μg/mL). Crucially, the BSE-loaded scaffolds retained this beneficial property in a loading-dependent manner. The 20%BSE-loaded scaffold (IC₅₀ ≈ 78 μg/mL) was significantly more potent than the 10% loaded variant (IC₅₀ ≈ 135 μg/mL), highlighting the efficacy of the loading process. the in vitro findings lead to the conclusion that the developed BSE-loaded ALG/GEL scaffolds are effective antimicrobial agents. These multifunctional properties make the developed scaffold a highly promising candidate for advanced tissue regeneration applications.