Formulation and evaluation of gallic acid-loaded Sodium alginate hydrogel beads for accelerated Wound healing

Abstract

Chronic and non-healing wounds remain a significant clinical challenge due to prolonged inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbial infection. The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate gallic acidloaded sodium alginate hydrogel beads as a controlled drug delivery system for accelerated wound healing. The hydrogel beads were prepared by the ionotropic gelation method using sodium alginate as the polymer and calcium chloride as the cross-linking agent. The prepared formulations were evaluated for particle size, morphology, swelling index, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, in vitro drug release, and stability. The optimized formulation exhibited good colloidal stability, sustained drug release, high swelling capacity, strong antioxidant activity, and enhanced fibroblast proliferation and migration, supporting its potential as an effective wound-healing dressing.