Synergistic effects of MWNTs and aloe vera in PLA/Alginate membrane scaffolds for improved soft tissue engineering

• PLA, Alg, MWNTs, and aloe vera were used to design novel scaffolds for soft tissue engineering. • Four samples with different compositions of the constituents were prepared. • P-CNA3 exhibited the highest hydrophilicity and the lowest water contact angles. • The P-CNA4 sample exhibited the highest cell viability percentages in L929 and NIH3T3 cells. This study focuses on the development and characterization of four distinct compositions of novel poly(lactic acid)/alginate membrane scaffolds, enhanced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and aloe vera, for potential applications in soft tissue engineering. The incorporation of constituents and chemical interactions was validated. Morphological studies revealed that the scaffolds possessed smooth surfaces and a three-dimensional, interconnected porous architecture. Wettability analysis indicated that all scaffolds were hydrophilic, with water contact angles decreasing from 45.4° (PLA/Alg) to 31.8° (PLA/Alg + 2% aloe vera + 4% MWNTs). Mechanical evaluation indicated tensile strengths ranging from 4.0 to 10.4 MPa, elongation at break between 8.5% and 19.8%, and a maximum Young’s modulus of 10.4 MPa, values consistent with the mechanical demands of soft tissue. The scaffolds also exhibited a high swelling capacity, reaching up to ∼539% after 120 minutes, further supporting efficient nutrient transport and waste removal. The incorporation of MWNTs and aloe vera in the polymeric matrices modestly improved cell growth and proliferation compared to pure scaffolds. In particular, the sample, comprising 2% aloe vera and 4% MWNTs, demonstrated the highest cell viability percentages in NIH3T3 and L929 cell lines, indicating its potential for advanced tissue engineering applications.