Oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin in situ gelling hydrogel for accelerated diabetic wound healing: Synthesis, characterization, and in vivo investigations

Diabetic wounds are chronic wounds that are currently affecting many patient's quality of life. These wounds are challenging because of the impaired healing cycle and harsh environment. In this study in situ gelling hydrogels based on oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose (OCMC) and gelatin (Gel) were used to hasten the healing rate due to their ease of application. The suggested system in this work is synthesized from entirely natural renewable biomaterials to not only achieve the best biocompatibility and biodegradability but also to develop a sustainable product. The rheological studies showed that the hydrogel is turned into a gel after about 30 s of the mixing process. Moreover, the hydrogel can absorb about ten times its weight, keeping the wound hydrated. In vitro biological investigations indicated optimal biocompatibility, antibacterial, and antioxidant activity for faster tissue regeneration. This product was tested in vivo on normal rats and diabetic mice models to treat full-thickness incisional wounds. Results showed that the OCMC-Gel hydrogel is able to hasten the healing rate in both non-diabetic and diabetic wounds. Pathological examinations of the regenerated skin tissue revealed that the OCMC-Gel treated groups developed much more than the control group.