Carrageenan-based physically crosslinked injectable hydrogel for wound healing and tissue repairing applications

[Display omitted] •Injectable hydrogel was prepared combining iota/kappa carrageenan, locust bean gum and gelatin.•The addition of locust bean gum enhanced the mechanical and swelling properties.•The incorporation of gelatin improved the cell adhesion and spreading of fibroblasts.•The hydrogel was able to release a growth factor to promote cell migration.•The hydrogel is a good candidate for wound healing and tissue repairing applications. In this study, a novel injectable hydrogel based on iota and kappa carrageenan, locust bean gum and gelatin was prepared for wound healing and tissue repairing applications. This injectable hydrogel was obtained via physical crosslinking. FTIR analysis confirmed the physical interaction between the biopolymeric components of the hydrogel. The prepared injectable hydrogel exhibited shear-thinning characteristics and could be injected for minimally invasive applications. Also, the hydrogel showed a porous structure, physiological and mechanical stability and biocompatibility. The in vitro cell culture studies showed that fibroblasts were able to grow, adhere and spread inside the hydrogel, indicating that hydrogel could support tissue repair. Moreover, hydrogel could be useful for the delivery of biomolecules. Vascular endothelial growth factor was encapsulated within the hydrogel and subsequently released, which accelerated the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and facilitated in vitro wound healing. Overall, the results indicate that hydrogel can be a potential injectable delivery vehicle for wound healing and tissue repair.