Gelatin–Chitosan Scaffolds from Mugil cephalus Skin: Enhanced Fibroblast Proliferation, Migration, and Anti-Inflammatory Activity for Wound Healing

The fishing and aquaculture industries consistently produce substantial amounts of waste, from which collagen (Col.), gelatin (Gel.), and chitosan (Ch.) can be extracted. These biomolecules can subsequently be used as raw materials in the production of biomaterials, particularly in the fabrication of scaffolds designed for wound healing applications. Understanding how Gel:Ch ratio influences their physicochemical characteristics, and especially their biological properties, is essential to ensure the development of a safe product with validated in vitro properties. In this study, we developed novel scaffold formulations, named FGS-1, FGS-2 and FGS-3, using, for the first time, gelatin isolated from the skin of Mugil cephalus, with different Gel-Ch. ratios: (1:1), (2:1), and (1:2), respectively. The hydroxyproline content was higher in the raw material (Gel.) and decreased in the scaffold formulations after crosslinking with EDC/NHS, showing a positive correlation with increasing Gel:Ch ratio (FGS-2>FGS-1>FGS-3). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed crosslinking between the components of Gel:Ch. All formulations exhibited high biocompatibility after 24 h with L929 fibroblast and RAW 264.7 macrophage cell lines, as determinated by the MTT colorimetric assay. No significant differences were observed among the formulations regarding nitric oxide inhibition; however, a significant inhibitory effect on superoxide anion production was observed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages cells, indicating positive anti-inflammatory activity. Likewise, the BrdU cell proliferation assay revealed that FGS-2 formulation showed a favorable proliferative effect compared to the control group. Finally, fibroblast migration showed a significant positive effect especially in FGS-2 scaffolds, as evidenced by the in vitro scratch assay after 14 h of incubation. These results highlight the potential of scaffolds prepared from Mugil cephalus skin gelatin for tissue repair and regeneration and support further in vivo studies.