Curcumin, a principal component of Curcuma longa, has a long history of being used topically for wound healing. However, poor aqueous solubility of curcumin leads to poor topical absorption. Recently, gelatin based gel has been reported to overcome this issue. However, the release of curcumin from gelatin gel in the bioavailable or easily absorbable form is still a challenge. The present study reports the development of a composite gel prepared from gelatin, F127 and lecithin using temperature dependant gelation and loading of curcumin within it. Notably, the composite gel facilitated the release of curcumin entrapped within vesicles of ~400 nm size. Further, the composite gel exhibited increase in the storage modulus or gel strength, stability, pore size and hydrophobicity as compared to only gelatin gel. Finally, wound healing assay in murine model indicated that curcumin delivered through composite gel showed a significantly faster healing as compared to that delivered through organic solvent. This was also validated by histopathological and biochemical analysis showing better epithelization and collagen synthesis in the group dressed with curcumin containing composite gel. In conclusion, composite gel facilitated the release of bioavailable or easily absorbable curcumin which in turn enhanced the wound healing.

姜黄素，姜黄的主要成分，有很长的历史被局部用于伤口愈合。然而，姜黄素的水溶性差导致局部吸收差。最近，据报道，基于明胶的凝胶可以克服这个问题。然而，以生物可利用或易吸收形式从明胶凝胶中释放姜黄素仍然是一个挑战。本研究报告开发了一种由明胶、F127 和卵磷脂制备的复合凝胶，使用温度依赖性凝胶化和姜黄素负载。值得注意的是，复合凝胶促进了包裹在约 400 nm 囊泡内的姜黄素的释放。此外，与仅明胶凝胶相比，复合凝胶表现出储能模量或凝胶强度、稳定性、孔径和疏水性的增加。最后，小鼠模型中的伤口愈合试验表明，与通过有机溶剂递送的姜黄素相比，通过复合凝胶递送的姜黄素显示出明显更快的愈合速度。这也通过组织病理学和生化分析得到验证，显示在含有姜黄素复合凝胶的组中上皮化和胶原合成更好。总之，复合凝胶促进了生物可利用或易于吸收的姜黄素的释放，从而促进了伤口愈合。