Copper Ion and Tannic Acid Polyphenol-Metal Scaffold Loaded with Curcumin Promote Skin Wound Healing

Skin wound healing is a complex physiological process that requires coordinated action of various tissue cells. Several factors, such as infection and excessive inflammation, can prolong the healing process and, in severe cases, may lead to chronic wounds, threatening people's lives and health. Therefore, effective treatment strategies are required to accelerate the healing process and improve the quality of healing. The purpose of this study was to develop a curcumin (Cur)-loaded polyphenol-metal network hydrogel (GelMA@NP) and to evaluate its role in promoting wound healing. Cur possesses diverse biological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant. GelMA@NP improves the stability and bioavailability of Cur by loading Cur into copper ions (Cu²⁺) and tannic acid (TA) to form polyphenol-metal network nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were then combined with methacrylate gelatin (GelMA) using three-dimensional printing technology to generate GelMA@NP hydrogel scaffolds with different shapes for wound treatment. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that GelMA@NP exhibited excellent biocompatibility, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, along with the ability to promote wound healing. The findings of this study provide new strategies and methods for developing novel wound healing materials.