Biogenic Calcium Mineral-Chitosan Composite Nanofiber Dressing for Control of Traumatic Hemorrhage

Effective biomaterials for traumatic hemorrhage control remain an unmet clinical challenge, while several potential biomaterials, like oyster shell waste, are emerging as key ecological hazards. Hemostatic nanofiber dressing using biogenic calcium powders from Magallana cuttackensis is reported here. Extracted and treated powders were characterized by XRD, EDX, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy to confirm the presence of CaO and Ca(OH)₂ as the calcium phases. A chitosan-based nanofiber matrix, one of the most commonly used hemostatic dressing materials, was used as a control nanofiber (CNF) and integrated with shell waste calcium minerals (MSWNF). The hemolysis of CNF and MSWNF nanofibers was 5% ± 0.3% and 4% ± 0.2%, respectively. The in vitro clotting time (CT) under CNF and MSWNF nanofibers was 230 ± 11 s and 198 ± 4 s, which, along with other parameters-prothrombin times (27 ± 0.4 s and 22 ± 0.6 s) and plasma recalcification time (76 ± 4 s and 47 ± 1 s)-indicated enhancement in hemostasis performance by MSWNF over CNF. After in vivo evaluation in the rabbit incision model, the bleeding time of the control group (274 ± 6 s) was longer than CNF (97 ± 8 s) or MSWNF (75 ± 5 s). Blood oozing until hemostasis was 0.380 g, 0.354 g, and 0.121 g under control gauge, CNF, and MSWNF, respectively, demonstrating enhancement in hemostasis performance by MSWNF. Further, histopathological examination proved continued epithelialization and formation of capillaries, indicative of wound healing. The results provide promising evidence for a more effective biomaterial from biogenic oyster shell waste than commonly employed hemostatic dressing materials.