Effects of adding curcumin-loaded halloysite nanotubes to Nile tilapia skin gelatin film re-crosslinked with tannic acid

Abstract

An alternative for the recovery of waste from tilapia skin would be the development of biomaterials, such as gelatin-based films, which could be applied in the area of tissue engineering. One strategy for this is to use crosslinking processes and add reinforcement, such as haloysite nanotubes (Hal), in order to improve its mechanical, chemical and structural properties. Thus, films were obtained by the casting method using Hal loaded with curcumin (Hal-Cur) as dispersed phase (reinforcement), tilapia skin gelatin (Gel) acting as matrix and tannic acid (TA) as crosslinker. The films were characterized by analyzing the degree of crosslinking, antioxidant activity, FT-IR, TGA, DMA, mechanical assays, SEM, contact angle, water vapor permeability and cytotoxicity. Regarding the structure of these materials, the pH adjustment in the Gel solution to 11 (> IP) favored the formation of possible hydrogen bonds between the -OH groups of the Hal-Cur and TA with the -NH2 and -OH groups of the Gel. With the addition of Hal-Cur, the films crosslinked with TA showed greater flexibility, moderate hydrophilicity, high antioxidant activity (67.88–70.01%) and greater permeability to water vapor, in addition to excellent biocompatibility (cellular viability >75%). In addition, they obtained an adequate water vapor transmission rate to act in wound healing. Therefore, these films have the potential to be used as biodressings in the treatment of epidermal lesions.