Enhancing alginate dialdehyde–gelatin (ADA–GEL) based hydrogels for biofabrication by addition of phytotherapeutics and mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs)

This study optimized alginate dialdehyde–gelatin (ADA–GEL) hydrogels for bioprinting applications by incorporating phytotherapeutic agents (curcumin, quercetin) and mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs). The additions aimed to improve hydrogel printability, mechanical stability, and bioactivity for osteogenic tissue engineering. The ADA–GEL–MBGN composites exhibited improved thermal stability and crosslinking density without compromising biocompatibility. Phytotherapeutics reduced oxidative stress and enhanced pre-osteoblastic proliferation, while MBGNs released Ca²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ ions supporting mineralization. The dual additive system improved compressive modulus by 2.4× and delayed degradation, establishing ADA–GEL–MBGN–phytotherapeutic hydrogels as promising bioinks for bone repair and regenerative medicine.