Photocrosslinkable Morin-loaded gelatin-g-GMA composite hydrogel for accelerating burn wound healing: <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> assessments

Abstract

studies using a THP-1-derived M1 macrophage model, showed that the Morin-loaded hydrogel formulations GH-5, GH-6, and GH-7 demonstrated a potent, concentration-dependent suppression of key M1 inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), IL-1β, and IL-6. This anti-inflammatory effect was mechanistically linked to the downregulation of critical genes (iNOS, COX-2, and STAT-3) that drive the M1 phenotype. Notably, the hydrogel with the highest Morin concentration (GH-7, 5%) exhibited the most significant reduction in inflammatory outputs, suggesting that the therapeutic efficacy is enhanced by Morin loading onto nanofibers. Collectively, this study provides a foundation for the development of functional hydrogels in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, particularly in relation to burn therapy and modulating macrophage-driven inflammatory pathologies.