Curcumin entrapped gelatin/ionically modified bacterial cellulose based self-healable hydrogel film: An eco-friendly sustainable synthesis method of wound healing patch

In this context, we have prepared a biocompatible gelatin based polyelectrolyte hydrogel patch that has an inherent ability to self-heal in the presence of physiological pH (pH = 7.4). The gelatin-based hydrogel patch consists of the ionically modified self-assembled bacterial cellulose (iBC), extracted from Glucanoacetobacter xylinus (MTCC7795) bacterial strain. Presence of the iBC provides a sturdy cage to the gelatin matrix and also participates into the self-healing activity via formation of the ionic interlocking system in the presence of buffer solution having a pH of 7.4 after being damaged. The self-healing activity of the patch has been monitored through tensile strength measurement and AFM depth profilometry analyses. Loading of the curcumin in the hydrogel patch system incorporates the wound healing activity, examined over the NIH 3 T3 fibroblast cell line. The patch is also able to show antimicrobial activity which has been assessed via FESEM analysis and live-dead assay using propidium iodide (PI) and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) as a fluorescent indicator. This self-healable, ionically interlocked, mechanically robust, bio-derived smart hydrogel patch system can pave a new direction in the transdermal drug delivery system.