Development of an extracellular matrix-enriched gelatin sponge for liver wound dressing

Gelatin, as a common hemostatic agent, has been processed into a variety of forms for clinical applications. To enhance wound healing and reduce postoperative complications after liver trauma or surgery, naturally-derived materials can be incorporated into gelatin to improve its physical and biological properties. In this study, we developed an extracellular matrix (ECM) enriched gelatin (EG) sponge through combining liver ECM digestion and gelatin at different proportions. By increasing the gelatin concentration, the EG sponge exhibited reduced porous structure, lower water absorption rate, superior degradation resistant, and higher elastic modulus, whereas, by increasing the ECM concentration, the porous structure and swelling ratio of the EG sponge were significantly improved. We tested the in vivo response of EG sponge for liver parenchyma wound repair as compared with the ECM-only or gelatin-only sponges. Liver wound repaired with the gelatin-only sponge exhibited a severe inflammation and tissue adhesion. In contrast, both ECM-only and EG sponges repaired liver wound showed desired biocompatibility as evidenced by a smooth liver surface, reduced wound size, earlier material absorption, and accelerated liver regeneration. In conclusion, the properly designed EG sponge is a more effective and safer topical hemostatic agent than the traditional gelatin sponge for repairing liver injury.