20.500.12556/DiRROS-28774 Gelatin/ascorbic acid scaffolds for controlled release of allantoin a fully natural approach for skin tissue regeneration through pro-regenerative, antimicrobial, and keratinocyte-supportive properties Gelatin/ascorbic acid scaffolds for controlled release of allantoin: a fully natural approach for skin tissue regeneration through pro-regenerative, antimicrobial, and keratinocyte-supportive properties Background/Objectives: Nature-inspired therapeutic strategies that promote biological regenerative mechanisms and replicate the native structural microenvironment conductive to formation of healthy tissue are increasingly recognized as a promising platform for skin tissue regeneration and wound healing. This study proposes an innovative design of novel multifunctional scaffolds composed entirely of natural components—gelatin, L-ascorbic (ASA) acid and allantoin—as a bioinspired approach for skin tissue regeneration through pro-regenerative, antimicrobial, and keratinocyte-supportive properties. Methods: The biocompatible, skin-adhesive scaffolds were prepared via a simple and environmentally friendly heat-induced crosslinking of gelatin with varying ASA contents, and by enriching the system with allantoin. The influence of ASA content on scaffold properties was investigated through characterization of their morphology, porosity, swelling behavior, skin tissue adhesion, and allantoin release potential. Biocompatibility was evaluated in vitro using human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells, while antibacterial activity was assessed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results: The scaffolds revealed a highly porous, interconnected structure with tunable porosity (87.37–92.39%) and soft-tissue-matched mechanical properties (0.81–1.47 MPa). Incorporation of allantoin into the scaffolds enhanced their mechanical performance and swelling capacity. All scaffolds demonstrated antibacterial activity against both tested bacteria, supported keratinocyte viability and provided sustained release of allantoin for up to 76 h, confirming their multifunctional pro-regenerative potential. Conclusions: The novel gelatin/ascorbic acid scaffolds enriched with allantoin combine a porous replicated structure of native extracellular matrix, fluid absorption capacity, soft-tissue-like mechanical properties, stable skin tissue adhesion, cytocompatibility and antibacterial functionality with the pro-regenerative properties of allantoin, thereby representing a multifunctional and biologically inspired platform for advanced skin tissue regeneration and wound-healing applications. tissue regeneration scaffolds regeneracija tkiva regeneracija kože true false true MDPI Švica Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik © 2026 by the authors. Neznano 2026-04-07 08:55:44 2026-04-07 08:55:45 2026-04-08 03:47:40 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Soavtorice iz Slovenije: Marija Vukomanović, Martina Žabčić, Lea Gazvoda; Opis vira z dne 28. 3. 2026; str. 1-19 iss. 3, [article no.] 391 Vol. 18 Mar. 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2026-02-08 2026-03-20 2026-03-22 621.7+621.9 1999-4923 10.3390/pharmaceutics18030391 273436931 https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/18/3/391 1 cf1df9e0-324e-11f1-b7aa-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=42842 RAZ_Babic_Radic_Marija_M._2026.pdf RAZ_Babic_Radic_Marija_M._2026.pdf 1 0B9E156075CE0E5B3BFB22019B78B127 9dd2710793717a1b13bd4a9dae7e92b1feb9471d5b10112d04fe5b4780350824 2bc636c5-324f-11f1-b7aa-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=42844 Institut Jožef Stefan 0 0 0