Grape Seed-Inspired Smart Hydrogel Scaffolds for Melanoma Therapy and Wound Healing

Grape-seed extracts contain rich flavonoids with oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC). In this study, OPC containing hydrogel scaffolds can function as a natural photothermal agent for melanoma therapy and bioactive biomaterial for wound healing. Inspired by grape-seed extracts, OPC were explored as a photothermal agent and endowed the hydrogel scaffolds with excellent and controlled photothermal ability. The rheological property of the hydrogel scaffolds responded to irradiation time of near infrared (NIR) laser, and OPC contents. The compressive mechanical property of the hydrogel scaffolds was well modulated by NIR laser irradiation with different impact durations. The controlled high temperature induced by OPC-containing hydrogel scaffolds under NIR laser irradiation could effectively kill melanoma cells and suppress tumor growth. In addition, OPC-containing hydrogel scaffolds supported the proliferation and migration of human dermal fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, as well as obviously promoted angiogenesis and skin regeneration in both tumor-caused and chronic wounds. Therefore, OPC-containing hydrogel scaffolds possessed controlled photothermal, rheological, and compressive mechanical properties under NIR laser stimuli, as well as excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity for melanoma therapy and wound healing.