Development of quercetin loaded silk fibroin/soybean protein isolate hydrogels for burn wound healing

Hydrogel networks composed of naturally derived polymers offer a promising solution for the development of wound dressings due to their biodegradable, biocompatible, and renewable properties. In this study, silk fibroin (SF) and soybean protein isolate (SPI) were used as the main components to create a natural SF/SPI hydrogel. To further enhance its bioactivity, quercetin was loaded into the hydrogel to form a SF/SPI-Q hydrogel. The resulting SF/SPI-Q hybrid hydrogels possessed a unique combination of advantages derived from both the natural polymers (such as excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and promotion of cell migration) and therapeutic drugs (including antibacterial properties and antioxidant capacity). As a result, the hydrogel effectively accelerated wound healing in an infected burn wound model. The SF/SPI-Q hydrogels accelerated epidermal regeneration, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis, facilitating the healing process of burn wounds. Moreover, they also exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, which contributed to a reduction in inflammation. Thus, the SF/SPI-Q hydrogels showed great potential as a highly effective treatment option for wound healing applications.