Dual-functional hydrogel with curcumin-loaded GelMA and silk fibroin for wound healing: Characterization and in vitro evaluation

Wound infection poses a major challenge in tissue engineering, highlighting the need for multifunctional scaffolds that promote tissue regeneration while inhibiting bacterial growth. This study fabricated a bioactive scaffold using gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and silk fibroin (SF), cross-linked with UV irradiation, and then treated with ethanol. Curcumin (Cur), a natural polyphenolic compound, was incorporated into the GelMA-SF hydrogel to create scaffolds capable of releasing curcumin with potent antibacterial properties. The results revealed that the prepared hydrogel scaffolds exhibited a porous structure with interconnected pores, improved mechanical properties, and a slower degradation profile. The controlled and sustained release of curcumin from the GelMA-SF@Cur hydrogel scaffold was approximately 55.2 ± 2.53 % over 24 h. Furthermore, the hydrogel contains curcumin, which has shown strong antibacterial properties on S. aureus and E. coli. According to in vitro data, the scaffold promoted L929 cell adhesion and proliferation and exhibited excellent hemocompatibility. The present study confirms that curcumin-incorporated GelMA-SF hydrogel scaffolds hold promise for wound-healing applications, especially for treating infected wounds. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd