A rapid-hemostasis composite sponge of biguanide chitosan and laurylamine-modified oxidized dextran with engineered...

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is a leading cause of preventable death in trauma, driving the urgent need for advanced hemostatic materials. This study involved the development of a novel composite hemostatic sponge by integrating biguanide chitosan (CSG) with oxidized dextran (ODex) and its laurylamine-modified derivative (ODex-LA). The sponge was engineered through Schiff base cross-linking within a CSG-ODex matrix, with incorporated ODex-LA modulating surface hydrophobicity. The optimized CSG/ODex-LA1 formulation (containing 0.625 % w/v ODex-LA) exhibited an interconnected porous structure, exceptional fluid absorption capacity, excellent cytocompatibility, and enhanced blood cell aggregation. In vitro evaluations revealed superior coagulation performance compared to conventional gauze and commercial gelatin sponges. In vivo assessments in murine hemorrhage models demonstrated significant reductions in both bleeding time and total blood loss compared to commercial controls. This enhanced hemostatic efficacy stems from three synergistic mechanisms: (i) a microporous architecture that physically entraps blood cells and platelets; (ii) positively charged surfaces that promote electrostatic aggregation and activation; and (iii) hydrophobic alkyl chains that improve cellular adhesion and capture. These findings establish the CSG/ODex-LA1 sponge as a highly promising rapid hemostatic agent with strong clinical potential for emergency trauma management.