Healing from the Ocean: Engineered Hydrogels from Marine Collagen and Gelatin for Burn Wound Therapy

Abstract Collagen and gelatin are natural biopolymers extensively investigated for biomedical applications due to their biomimetic properties. In this study, hydrogels were developed using collagen and gelatin derived from marine sources, specifically from fish industry byproducts, supporting a sustainable and circular approach. While gelatin is more accessible and cost-effective than collagen, it exhibits poor mechanical properties and, like collagen, is water-soluble at physiological temperature (37 °C), limiting its use at body temperature. To enhance stability and functionality, microbial transglutaminase (TG) was used to cross-link these marine-derived proteins. By modulating the cross-linking degree, hydrogels with tunable swelling capacities (250−27,071%) and elastic moduli (0.07−10.56 kPa) were obtained, suitable for mimicking a variety of soft tissues. The natural flavonoid rutin, known for its antioxidant activity, was incorporated as a model drug to assess controlled release and therapeutic potential. In vitro studies revealed a burst release of rutin within 24 h, effectively protecting HaCaT cells from oxidative damage. Hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility with HaCaT and HFF-1 cells confirmed the material’s biocompatibility. Furthermore, application in a UV-B-induced mouse skin burn model significantly reduced levels of key inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β), demonstrating potential to modulate inflammation and support wound healing.