Effects of platelet-rich plasma on crosslinking, microstructure and in vitro biocompatibility of GelMA hydrogels

Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels hold promise for wound dressings, yet their poor mechanical properties and limited bioactivity restrict clinical translation. To reveal its regulatory mechanisms on hydrogel physicochemical and biological properties, GelMA hydrogels loaded with 10%, 20%, and 30% PRP were prepared and assessed for microstructure, mechanical performance, degradability and hemocompatibility. PRP incorporation concentration-dependently enlarged pore size and remodeled the interconnected porous network. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and Raman spectroscopy collectively verified the successful incorporation of PRP while maintaining the intact chemical skeleton of GelMA. Mechanical tests demonstrated that the composite hydrogels possessed favorable flexibility and deformability suitable for wound dressing applications. The incorporation of PRP accelerated the in vitro degradation of hydrogels and enabled the sustained delivery of bioactive ingredients. All formulations showed excellent hemocompatibility with hemolysis rates below 4%. In vitro cellular assays demonstrated that GelMA–PRP hydrogels significantly enhance the proliferation, migration and angiogenic capacity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), among which the 30% PRP group possessed the optimal biological activity. These results demonstrate that PRP-incorporated GelMA hydrogels integrate favorable structural, mechanical, and biological properties, holding great potential as advanced wound dressings.