Preparation of quercetin incorporated photocrosslinkable methacrylated gelatin/methacrylated kappa-carrageenan antioxidant hydrogel wound dressings

Wound dressings with antioxidant potential have attracted remarkable concerns for wound healing. The purpose of this work is to investigate blank, and quercetin loaded photocrosslinkable methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)/methacrylated kappa-carrageenan (KapMA) hydrogel. Wound dressings were produced by the photocrosslinking method in the presence of a photoinitiator. Quercetin was incorporated in photocrosslinkable GelMA/KapMA wound dressings with different ratios. Besides, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, swelling, and degradation tests were performed for characterization studies of the hydrogel wound dressings. The release of quercetin from GelMA/KapMA wound dressings was investigated at a physiological pH value of 7.4 at 37 °C. The antioxidant activity of the hydrogel dressings was further evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method. Biocompatibility of wound dressings was assessed using MTT assay tests on NIH-3T3 cell line, which evaluated its suitability in biomaterial applications. The obtained results indicated that quercetin incorporated photocrosslinked GelMA/KapMA wound dressings provide antioxidant activity, and they could be the ability for the potential wound dressings applications.