Development and Application of a Crosslinked Gelatin Foam Dressing for
Wound Recovery
Abstract
In this study, we developed and characterized a gelatin-based foam
dressing for application in the medical device field. We utilized
gelatin as the substrate and prepared the dressing through foaming and
freeze-drying processes. This dressing exhibited a favorable pore
distribution, with an average pore size of approximately 60–70 μm,
enabling efficient absorption of wound exudate and promoting wound
healing. We conducted cell viability analyses on four cell lines (3T3,
L929, Hs68, CG1519) exposed to the fluids released from the crosslinked
gelatin foam dressing, with excellent biocompatibility demonstrated
across all cell lines. In wound healing studies performed in
BALB/cByJNarl mice, the crosslinked gelatin foam dressing exhibited a
pronounced effect in promoting functional tissue regeneration and skin
repair at the wound site. An analysis of the wound closure rate, based
on wound area images acquired during dressing changes, revealed a
recovery speed comparable to that observed for a commercially available
dressing. Mice treated with the crosslinked gelatin foam dressing
consistently demonstrated a stable wound closure rate. Pathological
sections of wounds displayed regenerative tissues and epidermal layers,
highlighting the wound healing efficacy of our developed dressing. Liver
and kidney sections showed no presence of neutrophils or abnormal
lymphocyte infiltration, indicating the absence of significant drug
toxicity in mice. These findings collectively demonstrate the favorable
safety profile of the crosslinked gelatin foam dressing within
biological systems. Overall, the crosslinked gelatin foam dressing
developed in this study shows promise for use in wound dressing
applications.