Alginate is a highly
promising biopolymer due to its non-toxic
and biodegradable properties. Alginate hydrogels are often fabricated
by cross-linking sodium alginate with calcium cations and can be engineered
with highly desirable enhanced physical and biological properties
for biomedical applications. This study reports on the anticancer,
antiviral, antibacterial, in vitro, and in vivo toxicity, water absorption,
and compound release properties of an alginate hydrogel crosslinked
with calcium and different amounts of zinc cations. The results showed
that the calcium alginate hydrogel film crosslinked with the highest
amount of zinc showed similar water sorption properties to those of
calcium alginate and released a suitable amount of zinc to provide
anticancer activity against melanoma and colon cancer cells and has
antibacterial properties against methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus epidermidisand antiviral activity
against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. This film is non-toxic
in both in vitro in keratinocyte HaCaT cells and in vivo in theCaenorhabditis elegansmodel, which renders it especially
promising for biomedical applications.