Therapeutic potential of Art-C-infused gelatin hydrogel in enhancing pressure ulcer wound healing.

Chronic wounds, including pressure ulcers, present significant healthcare challenges due to prolonged healing, high costs, and complex pathology. Gelatin-based hydrogels infused with artepillin C (ArtC), an antioxidant compound from Brazilian green propolis, were successfully prepared and structurally characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy-showing peaks at 3408 cm-1 (NH stretching), 2932 cm-1 (asymmetric CH stretching), 1655 cm-1 (amide I), and 1238 cm-1 (amide III)-and X-ray diffraction-revealing a broad peak at 2θ ≈ 20° and a peak at 2θ ≈ 7-8°, indicative of partial crystallinity and collagen-like triple-helix structures. Art-C was infused at 0.05 %, 0.1 %, 0.25 %, and 0.5 % concentrations into these hydrogels and applied to a murine pressure ulcer model. Results showed a dose-dependent acceleration of wound closure, with the 0.5 % formulation producing the greatest reduction in wound area (Spearman's r = -0.79, p < 0.0001), followed closely by 0.25 %. The 0.5 % hydrogel achieved superior wound contraction. Histological analysis demonstrated increased collagen deposition at both 0.25 % and 0.5 % concentrations. Additionally, reactive oxygen species and nitrite levels in wound tissues were reduced at 0.25 % and 0.5 %, confirming antioxidant activity. These results underscore the therapeutic potential of structurally characterized Art-C-infused gelatin hydrogels as an effective, cost-efficient option for chronic wound management with broad clinical applicability.