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Review
. 2023 Jul 3;9(7):539.
doi: 10.3390/gels9070539.

Aloe vera-Based Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Properties and Therapeutic Effects

Mariana Chelu  1 , Adina Magdalena Musuc  1 , Monica Popa  1 , Jose Calderon Moreno  1
Affiliations
Review

Aloe vera-Based Hydrogels for Wound Healing: Properties and Therapeutic Effects

Mariana Chelu et al. Gels. .

Abstract

Aloe vera-based hydrogels have emerged as promising platforms for the delivery of therapeutic agents in wound dressings due to their biocompatibility and unique wound-healing properties. The present study provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the application of Aloe vera-based hydrogels for wound healing. The synthesis methods, structural characteristics, and properties of Aloe vera-based hydrogels are discussed. Mechanisms of therapeutic agents released from Aloe vera-based hydrogels, including diffusion, swelling, and degradation, are also analyzed. In addition, the therapeutic effects of Aloe vera-based hydrogels on wound healing, as well as the reduction of inflammation, antimicrobial activity, and tissue regeneration, are highlighted. The incorporation of various therapeutic agents, such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ones, into Aloe vera-based hydrogels is reviewed in detail. Furthermore, challenges and future prospects of Aloe vera-based hydrogels for wound dressing applications are considered. This review provides valuable information on the current status of Aloe vera-based hydrogels for the delivery of therapeutic agents in wound dressings and highlights their potential to improve wound healing outcomes.

Keywords: Aloe vera; hydrogels; therapeutic agents; wound dressings; wound healing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Raw morphology of the Aloe vera plant.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chemical structure of the main biocomponents isolated from Aloe vera [68].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scheme of the preparation of Aloe vera gel.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Graphical representation of Aloe vera hydrogel network preparation [86].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Synthesis, optical imaging of three composite hydrogels with different concentrations of Aloe vera (5%, 10%, and 20% w/v), and evaluation of their properties [94].
Figure 6
Figure 6
Graphical representation of the correlation between properties and composition of Aloe vera.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Structure of human skin: the epidermis (which contains keratinocytes, melanocytes, and Langerhans cells) and dermis (which includes fibroblasts, neutrophils, mast cells, and dermal dendritic cells), as well as subcutaneous hypodermis (which contains mesenchymal stem cells) [145].
Figure 8
Figure 8
The phases of the wound-healing process [145].
Figure 9
Figure 9
The retention of injected treatments with hydrogel and SUSD2 + mCherry + eMSC (A) Hyd T; (B) Hyd/eMSC T (yellow dotted lines); (C,D) red arrows—zoom area of hydrogel and black arrows—zoom area of collagen; (E) SUSD2, (F) mCherry, and (G) merge image of SUSD2 + mCherry in rat vaginal sections after 1 week. Reprinted with permission from ref. [151] Copyright 2023, Elsevier.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Images of different types of prepared hydrogel systems. (a) Hydrogel based only on Carbopol 934. (b) Placebo bioactive hydrogel (except piperine). (c) The bioactive hydrogel contains Carbopol 934, Aloe vera, and piperine [152].
Figure 11
Figure 11
Phases of the wound-healing process in the untreated (control), placebo gel, piperine gel, and marketed standard formulation groups of rats. Photo for day 1, day 5, day 9, and day 14 of treatment [152].
Figure 12
Figure 12
Images during the wound-healing process in female Wistar rats [153].
Figure 13
Figure 13
Aloe vera-based hydrogel for wound healing dressing: (a) dry hydrogel (b) wet hydrogel. The healing process (c) initial time; (d) after 5 min; (e) after 20 days; (f,g) inverted vial method [154].
Figure 14
Figure 14
(i) Live/dead fluorescent images of L929, control, (A)—untreated and treated with AV5 (B–F) and AV10 (G–K) hydrogels at different concentrations for 48 h. (B,G)—10 mg/mL; (C,H)—25 mg/mL; (D,I)—50 mg/mL; (E,J)—75 mg/mL; (F,K)—100 mg/mL. (ii) Light microscope images (a) after in vitro generation of a wound for 24 h. (b) ImageJ analysis of wound closure percentage [154].
Figure 15
Figure 15
Agar assay (a) hydrogel; (b) hydrogel + GO; (c) hydrogel + rGO; (d) Aloe vera gel; (e) Aloe vera gel + GO; (f) Aloe vera gel + rGO against (A) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, (B) Bacillus subtilis, (C) Staphylococcus aureus, and (D) E. coli. [178].
Figure 16
Figure 16
Actin staining of fibroblasts with phalloidin (A); the average length of the fibroblasts (B); fluorescent actin staining (C) [182].
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