The review explores the potential of asiaticoside-loaded bioscaffolds to improve the management of hyperglycemic wounds, particularly diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Asiaticoside, sourced from Centella asiatica, possesses properties that address DFUs’ healing challenges: insufficient angiogenesis, persistent inflammation, and delayed tissue regeneration. By incorporating asiaticoside into bioscaffold 3D designs including hydrogels, microneedle arrays, and nanofibrous meshes, therapeutic efficacy is optimized. This review examines the mechanisms of asiaticoside in wound healing (collagen production, angiogenesis modulation, inflammation reduction, and cell migration and proliferation) based on in vitro and in vivo studies. Asiaticoside also demonstrates synergistic abilities with other biomaterials, creating the possibility of more effective therapies. While preclinical research is promising, clinical trials are crucial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of asiaticoside-loaded bioscaffolds in patients with DFUs. Asiaticoside-loaded bioscaffolds are a significant development in wound healing and may aid in treating hyperglycemic wound complications. Their ability to offer individualized treatment plans has the potential to enhance the quality of life of those who suffer from diabetes. This review is based on a thorough literature search (2019–2024) across multiple databases, excluding secondary literature and non-English articles.

Hydrogels are attractive biomaterials for skin replacement and tissue regeneration, offering advantages over split-skin grafts for large or irregular wounds. Honey-containing hydrogels are of particular interest, combining honey’s natural healing properties with the versatility of hydrogel matrices. This study aimed to develop a biocompatible, biodegradable, and mechanically stable hydrogel as a cutaneous substitute. To achieve this, different formulations were prepared using gelatin (GE), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and Kelulut honey (KH). The formulations were designated as: GE-PVA (6% (w/v) GE: 5% (w/v) PVA, without KH), GE-PVA-H1 (containing 1% (v/v) KH), GE-PVA-H5 (containing 5% (v/v) KH), and GE-PVA-H10 (containing 10% (v/v) KH). All formulations were crosslinked with 0.1% (w/v) genipin (GNP). GE-PVA-H1 and GE-PVA-H1-GNP showed swelling ratios of 110.18 ± 20.14% and 86.31 ± 14.27%, lower than GE-PVA-H5 (125.79 ± 23.76%), GE-PVA-H10 (132.79 ± 20.86%), and their crosslinked counterparts. All formulations had WVTR <1500 g/m⁻²h⁻¹, with GE-PVA-H1-GNP at 501.21 ± 41.35 g/m⁻²h⁻¹, GE-PVA-H5-GNP at 473.77 ± 44.10 g/m⁻²h⁻¹, and GE-PVA-H10-GNP at 467.51 ± 73.59 g/m⁻²h⁻¹. GE-PVA-H1-GNP exhibited the slowest biodegradation (0.0036 ± 0.0003 g/h vs. 0.0096–0.0206 g/h for other groups). Contact angle was lowest for GE-PVA-H1-GNP (38.46° ± 3.89°), confirming higher hydrophilicity compared with GE-PVA-H5/H10 groups. Resilience (98.85% ± 1.03%) and compression strength (77.42% ± 7.17%) of GE-PVA-H1-GNP were comparable to GE-PVA-H5-GNP and GE-PVA-H10-GNP. MTT assays confirmed cytocompatibility across all groups. Collectively, GE-PVA-H1-GNP emerged as the optimal formulation, combining mechanical stability, hydrophilicity, and biocompatibility for wound healing applications.

Chronic wounds, particularly those associated with conditions like diabetes, present significant challenges in healthcare due to prolonged healing and high susceptibility to infections. This study investigates the development of injectable hydrogels composed of genipin-crosslinked gelatin and Kelulut honey (KH) as novel biomaterials for wound healing applications. Hydrogels were prepared with varying concentrations (w/v) of gelatin (9% and 10%) and KH (0.1% and 0.5%), with genipin (0.1%) acting as a crosslinker. The physicochemical properties were extensively evaluated, including the swelling ratio, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), contact angle, porosity, enzymatic degradation, and surface roughness. The results showed that KH incorporation significantly enhanced the swelling properties of the hydrogels, with the 9GE_0.1KH formulation demonstrating a swelling ratio of 742.07 ± 89.61% compared to 500% for the control 9GE formulation. The WVTR values for KH-incorporated hydrogels ranged from 1670.60 ± 236.87 g/m²h to 2438.92 ± 190.90 g/m²h, which were within the ideal range (1500–2500 g/m²h) for wound healing. Contact angle measurements indicated improved hydrophilicity, with 9GE_0.1KH showing a contact angle of 42.14° ± 7.52° compared to 60° ± 11.66° for the 10GE formulation. Biodegradation rates were slightly higher for KH-modified hydrogels (0.079 ± 0.006 mg/h for 9GE_0.1KH), but all remained within acceptable limits. These findings suggest that genipin-crosslinked gelatin-KH hydrogels offer a promising scaffold for enhanced wound healing and potential applications in tissue engineering and three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technologies.

Chronic wounds remain a major healthcare concern due to delayed healing and high risk of infection. This study investigates the potential of genipin-crosslinked gelatin and asiaticoside (ASI) as innovative biomaterials ink for wound healing. Hydrogels were prepared using different concentrations of gelatin (9% w/v and 10% w/v) and asiaticoside at 0.05% w/v, with genipin employed as a natural crosslinker to improve mechanical strength. Their physicochemical characteristics, which includes swelling ratio, water vapour transmission rate (WVTR), contact angle, porosity, enzymatic degradation, and surface roughness were systematically evaluated, along with mechanical and cytotoxicity properties. Incorporation of asiaticoside enhanced hydrogel hydrophilicity, reduce porosity, and improved swelling behaviour, while preserving biodegradability and overall structural stability. The WVTR values remained within the optimal wound healing range (1500-2500 g/m²h). Furthermore, asiaticoside-loaded hydrogels demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility, supporting fibroblasts viability at lower concentrations including live/dead assay tests that were conducted. This study demonstrates that genipin-crosslinked gelatin-asiaticoside hydrogels are promising biomaterials ink for accelerated wound healing, with an initial characterization of an injectable formulation guiding their successful optimization to achieve the optimal injectability and printability for tissue engineering and three-dimenstional bioprinting (3D-bioprinting).