Heparin-based sericin hydrogel–encapsulated basic fibroblast growth factor for in vitro and in vivo skin repair

The study explored the use of a heparin-based sericin hydrogel encapsulated with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for skin repair. The hydrogel showed a 3D microporous structure, excellent biodegradability, and low cytotoxicity, effectively controlling bFGF release over 25 days. In vivo experiments on mice demonstrated that bFGF-HS significantly accelerated wound healing by promoting vascularization, re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, and hair follicle presence, while reducing inflammation. The hydrogel supported human keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation better than other dressings, with nearly complete healing by day 14. The study highlighted bFGF-HS's potential for effective wound healing applications, although further research on burn wounds was needed.