Development and evaluation of a gelatin-integrated wool hydrogel dressing for enhanced wound healing using in vitro and in vivo models.

Hydrogel-based advanced wound dressings promote rapid healing by creating a moist environment and protecting against contamination. However, pure hydrogel often lacks strength, flexibility, and wearer comfort for practical clinical use. To address these limitations, this study developed a gelatin hydrogel reinforced with wool fibrous nonwoven. The addition of wool fibers improved thermal comfort, structural integrity, and overall performance of the hydrogel system. Using a sol-gel technique, wool nonwovens with different areal densities (100-300 g/m2) were incorporated into gelatin matrices at varying concentrations (1-5%) to fabricate robust composite dressings. The composites were subjected to morphological, thermal, mechanical, permeability, absorption, antimicrobial, and in vivo evaluations. The fabricated composites demonstrated superior exudate absorption, increased mechanical strength, and elevated air permeability. In vivo investigations revealed that treated wounds significantly outperformed control groups by achieving 98% closure within 21 days. The statistical analysis confirmed that gelatin concentration had the predominant effect on strength and absorption properties, with wool reinforcement playing a pivotal role in improving breathability. These results indicate that wool-reinforced gelatin hydrogel composites offer an optimal integration of mechanical robustness, biocompatibility, and multifunctionality, positioning them as a promising material for advanced wound-dressing applications.