Fabrication, characterization, and application of gelatin/alginate-based hydrogels incorporating selenium-doped deferoxamine-derived carbon quantum dots: In vitro and in vivo studies.

This study developed a gelatin/alginate-based nanocomposite hydrogel (NC gel), incorporating selenium-doped deferoxamine-derived carbon quantum dots (Se.DFO-CQDs). Initially, Se.DFO-CQDs were synthesized and characterized through several tests, and subsequently, NC gels were created using an dual crosslinking method and analyzed through characterization tests such as SEM, EDX, FT-IR, XRD, tensile strength, water uptake, water vapor transmission rate, weight loss, porosity, blood compatibility, microbial penetration, and DPPH. In vivo studies revealed that NC gels containing Se.DFO-CQDs at 50 % and 0 % exhibited higher wound closure percentages than the control group. The highest wound closure percentage was observed in NC gels with Se.DFO-CQDs at 50 %, reaching 85.7 ± 3.98 % on the 7th day and 98.1 ± 3.95 % on the 14th day. Histological examinations demonstrated that NC gels with Se.DFO-CQDs at 50 % promoted more significant neovascularization, re-epithelialization, and collagen synthesis. Additionally, RT-qPCR results indicated that NC gels with Se.DFO-CQDs at 50 % significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of VEGF-A, bFGF, PDGF-b, and lncRNA GAS5 on the 7th day and COL1A1 on the 14th day. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the NC gels with Se.DFO-CQDs at 50 % show promise for enhancing wound healing and skin regeneration, potentially offering clinical applications.