Evaluation of a novel melatonin-loaded gelatin sponge as a wound dressing

Background: For Melatonin, the pineal gland hormone, also known as the neuroendocrine hormone, in-fluences angiogenesis by exerting a positive effect on fibroblast, monocyte, and cytokine proliferation. Formulation and study of characteristics of gelation-based Melatonin sponge crosslinked with fructose using the surfactant foaming and freeze-drying method for wound healing application was the objective of our study. The structure of the formulated gelatin sponge was observed using a scanning electron mi-croscope and showed to have abundant and uniform pores. Characteristics were studied using digestibility test, water uptake test, porosity measurement test, moisture uptake test, tensile strength test, folding en-durance test, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and drug entrapment efficiency analysis. Results: The obtained data showed that the formulated sponge had good mechanical properties, water uptake, and water retention capacities. In animal experiments, histological and macroscopic observations showed that wounds covered by gelatin loaded with a Melatonin sponge healed quickly. Conclusion: The formulated sponge was a potential wound healing material having suitable physical, me-chanical properties and biocompatibility. The graphical abstract is shown in Figure 1. (c) 2021 Society for Vascular Nursing, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aimed to formulate and study the characteristics of a gelation-based melatonin sponge crosslinked with fructose for wound healing application. The results showed that the formulated sponge had good mechanical properties, water uptake, and water retention capacities. Animal experiments demonstrated that wounds covered by the gelatin loaded with a melatonin sponge healed quickly.