Designing a pH-sensitive wound dressing: Harnessing purple allamanda extract for real-time healing monitoring and multifunctional therapeutic benefits

Developing a multifunctional wound dressing that serves to protect, facilitate healing, and indicate the progress of wound recovery represents a novel investigative approach. In this study, a ternary blended hydrocolloid consisting of agar (AG), sodium alginate (SA), and gelatin (GN) was employed as a polymer matrix, serving as an encapsulation medium for purple allamanda extract (PAE), a natural pH indicator. The composite material was fabricated using a solvent casting technique. The hydrocolloids were characterized using FT-IR, SEM, UTM, XRD and water contact angle measurements. The hydrocolloids showed a good tensile strength value of about 33.9 MPa and possess antibacterial, antioxidant, and hemocompatibility properties. The hydrocolloid degraded about 79% over 7 days. The AG/SA/GN-PA showed 85% of cell viability against the L929 mouse cell line. Thus, this methodology presents cost-effectiveness, safety and a streamlined manufacturing process. Further studies were conducted to evaluate hydrocolloids as a feasible platform for practical applications in wound monitoring and healing.

Graphical abstract