• Bioengineered Chitosan-Moringa Hydrogels: In Vitro Evaluation of Cell Viability and Regenerative Potential for Wound Care
  • Saeedeh Askarian,1,* Bahareh Jafari,2 Saeedeh Samareh Moosavi,3 Seyed Mohsen Saleh,4
    1. Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
    2. Department of Biology, Kavian Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
    3. Department of Biology, Kavian Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran
    4. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Neyshabur, Neyshabur, Iran


  • Introduction: Hydrogels represent a promising alternative to traditional wound dressings, offering moisture retention, biocompatibility, and bioactivity. Chitosan’s inherent antibacterial and hemostatic properties, when combined with the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Moringa oleifera extract, create a synergistic material for regenerative medicine. This study aimed to synthesize chitosan-based hydrogels with varying concentrations of the plant leaves extract and evaluate their physicochemical properties and biological effects for wound healing and drug delivery applications.
  • Methods: Hydrogels containing 0%, 5%, 10%, and 20% Moringa leaves extract were prepared and analyzed for porosity, swelling, density, degradation, and drug release. Microstructural and chemical characterizations were performed via FE-SEM and FTIR analyses. L929 fibroblasts were used to assess cell viability (MTT assay) and wound closure capacity (scratch assay).
  • Results: Higher extract concentrations reduced porosity and increased matrix density. All hydrogels showed >80% cell viability. The 10% Moringa hydrogel showed optimal stability, swelling, and drug release balance, and promoted fibroblast migration.
  • Conclusion: The 10% Moringa–chitosan hydrogel formulation offers promising properties for wound healing and controlled drug delivery. Further in vivo evaluation is recommended.
  • Keywords: Hydrogel, Chitosan, Moringa oleifera, in vitro, wound healing