A bacterial cellulose-polydopamine based injectable hydrogel for enhanced hemostasis in acute wounds

Abstract

An injectable hydrogel hemostat composed of bacterial cellulose (BC), polydopamine and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is presented as a biocompatible alternative to generally cytotoxic commercial hemostats. In this system, polydopamine (PDA) was coated on BC fibers by in situ oxidative polymerization, and CMC was added to improve matrix injectability, as confirmed by rheological analysis showing shear thinning behavior. The composite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess its physical, chemical and topographical characteristics. In vitro blood clotting tests demonstrated favorable blood clotting activity, achieving hemostasis within three minutes of application. PDA's antioxidative properties additionally helped to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). The composite was tested for its compatibility with blood and mammalian cells using the in vitro hemolysis assay, cell viability assay, and scratch assay. In vivo studies using rat tail amputation and liver puncture models exhibited effective hemostasis without significant toxicity. Histological analysis of skin tissue (H&E and TNF-α staining) validated the biocompatibility of the material. Thus, the BC/PDA/CMC hydrogel is a promising candidate for rapid hemostasis and wound healing, particularly in deep and irregular wounds.