Tomato based gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel as an effective natural and low-cost scaffold for accelerative wound healing

Oxidative stress and infection are the main reasons for postponement of wound healing rate. They can potentially lead to serious inflammation and eventually lead to a longer and more painful recovery phase. Although wound dressings based on synthetic materials with antioxidative property have been proved to exhibit remarkable effect in controlling ROS level and improving wound healing, issues, such as high cost in raw materials, complicated procedures, usage of various toxic additives, and potential allergies, have significantly confined further clinical applications. In this study, a novel type of tissue engineering scaffold, based on tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon) and gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), was prepared via facile lyophilization and photo cross-link method (SL/ GelMA). By taking advantages of various antioxidative components, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamin E, and vitamin C in tomatoes, SL/GelMA can effectively regulate ROS level, relieve the oxidative stress in wound bed, promote cell migration and angiogenesis, contribute to collagen deposition, and thus accelerate the rate of wound enclosure. Along with its high biocompatibility and low allergic potential, we believe that the food-derived wound dressing with facile preparation method, easy accessibility, and high costeffectiveness can be translated for clinical treatments of various chronic wounds.

Automated summary

Oxidative stress and infection are major factors delaying wound healing, with potential to cause inflammation and prolonged recovery. This study introduces a novel tissue engineering scaffold called SL/GelMA, developed using tomatoes and gelatin methacryloyl. By utilizing the natural antioxidative components found in tomatoes, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamin E, and vitamin C, SL/GelMA effectively regulates ROS levels, reduces oxidative stress, promotes cell migration and angiogenesis, and accelerates wound enclosure rate.