Optimized Damage-Control Hydrogel for Wound and Organ Management in Emergency Abdominal Trauma

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Abdominal trauma is a leading cause of preventable death, often due to hemorrhage and infection.
• Current hemostatic agents are insufficient for noncompressible wounds and may cause secondary damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional hydrogel for simultaneous hemostasis and infection control in abdominal trauma.
• To engineer a bioinspired material combining quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan (QCMCS) and oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA).

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a hydrogel using QCMCS for enhanced cationic hemostasis and dopamine-grafted OHA (OHA-Dop) for tissue adhesion.
• Evaluated hemostatic efficacy in rat liver models, comparing blood loss and clotting time to a commercial sponge.
• Assessed antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus and investigated tissue healing promotion in vitro.

Main Results:

• The QCMCS-OHA-Dop hydrogel significantly reduced blood loss and accelerated clotting compared to controls.
• Demonstrated potent antibacterial activity, achieving >99% reduction against E. coli and S. aureus.
• Promoted tissue healing by creating a regenerative microenvironment and activating key signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

• The developed hydrogel provides rapid hemorrhage control and effective infection prevention for abdominal trauma.
• This multifunctional material represents a promising advancement in trauma management, addressing critical needs in emergency care.
• The bioinspired design integrates hemostasis, adhesion, antibacterial properties, and tissue regeneration for comprehensive wound management.