Preparation and characterization of nanofunctionalized alginate/methacrylated gelatin hybrid hydrogels

Curcumin has been shown to be effective in many biomedical processes. However, the functionalization of hydrogel constructs with curcumin has been challenging due to its low water solubility. Here, we developed the preparation of alginate/methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) hybrid hydrogels functionalized with nanoliposomes encapsulating curcumin. Physicochemical properties of the polymer solutions and resulting hydrogels were studied. The engineered systems showed great rheological and swelling properties. The release behavior of curcumin-loaded nanoliposomes demonstrated their suitability as a drug delivery system. These novel biomaterial systems could be an excellent candidate for tissue engineering applications.