An Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Hydrogel Based on Chitosan for Effective Hemostasis

Abstract

The ideal hemostatic dressing should not only achieve the effect of hemostasis but also maintain a suitable moist environment and sufficient physical and mechanical strength and avoid secondary injury to the wound. Here, a stretchable, adhesive, and antibacterial hydrogel (SAQH) for wound hemostasis is facilely prepared by photopolymerization under green LED irradiation, in which acrylamide (AAM) and methacryloylethylsulfobetaine (SBMA) are used as the skeleton and quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan (QCCS) is used as the procoagulant component. The introduction of the macromolecular cross-linking agent methacryloyl hyaluronic acid (HA-GMA) enhances biocompatibility and avoids the addition of small molecular toxic cross-linking agents. The introduction of inorganic nanoparticle hydroxyapatite (HAP) into the hydrogel system not only improves the mechanical properties of the polymer network but also releases calcium ions from HAP to achieve a good coagulation-promoting effect. SAQH hydrogels have excellent mechanical properties (the maximum stress can reach 237 kPa), good adaptability, sufficient tissue adhesion, and effective antibacterial properties. In the mouse liver injury model, hydrogels can adhere to the bleeding site to reduce blood loss, and they will not cause secondary bleeding when removed. This research develops a potential hemostatic hydrogel with broad applicable prospects.