Novel polycaprolactone-grafted pectin methacrylate coating for advanced wound dressings: Combining hemostatic...

Wound dressings play a critical role in the healing process of wounds by facilitating blood clotting and healing. A novel hydrophobic wound dressing was developed by grafting polycaprolactone onto pectin methacrylate (PECMA-g-PCL) for surface functionalization of medical gauze. This modification addresses the limitations of conventional gauze dressings, including excessive blood absorption and adhesion-induced trauma during removal. The PECMA-g-PCL coating combines rapid hemostatic with enhanced structural integrity and surface hydrophobicity. The grafting and coating processes were validated through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. In vitro evaluations demonstrated exceptional hemostatic performance, achieving a 90 % reduction in blood loss compared to traditional gauze (traditional gauze: 249.2 mg, modified gauze: 1.35-1.5 mg). Meanwhile, the modified dressing exhibited excellent hemocompatibility with a hemolysis ratio below <5 % and rapid blood clotting (Blood Clotting Index: 15 ± 2 %). Biocompatibility assessment showed high cell viability (≥80 %) with NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells and enhanced cell proliferation. The hydrophobic coating exhibited low peeling force upon removal, potentially reducing secondary trauma during dressing changes. These findings suggest that PECMA-g-PCL-coated gauze represents a promising advancement in wound care, offering improved hemostatic efficiency and wound healing promotion while maintaining cost-effectiveness.