Characterization of A Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen Blend for Resveratrol Release

Purpose The combination of collagen and hyaluronic acid forms a biodegradable polymeric blend capable of promoting cellular regeneration and enabling controlled drug release. Here, we developed and characterized blends composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) and collagen (COL) at different concentrations, incorporating resveratrol due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. To evaluate the properties of the blends and understand the differences due to their compositions, rheological analyses, drug release studies, cytotoxicity assays, and SEM imaging were conducted. Methods Polymeric blends were prepared by mixing a 3% HA solution with a 1% COL suspension, followed by resveratrol incorporation. Rheological behavior was evaluated through viscosity and amplitude sweep assays. Drug release was quantified in phosphate-buffered saline via UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assay using BALB/3T3 fibroblasts, and SEM images were acquired at 100x, 200x, and 500x magnifications for morphological evaluation and pores size measurement. Results The blends showed composition-dependent behavior, with higher hyaluronic acid promoting liquid-like and shear-stable viscosity profiles, while increased collagen content induced solid-like properties and greater resistance to the solid–liquid transition and was completed solubilized within two hours. The release profiles were directly associated with their compositional differences. H3C1 rapidly and completely released resveratrol, while H1C1 and H1C3 presented more controlled release. All blends demonstrated high cell viability, indicating biocompatibility and their potential applicability in connective tissue regeneration. Conclusion The results obtained demonstrate that blend composition directly modulates rheological properties, drug release behavior, biocompatibility, and microstructural characteristics, supporting their potential use in tissue engineering applications.