A water-activated shape-memory sponge incorporated with MaBo powder for rapid and effective control of...

Uncontrolled non-compressible hemorrhage and related infections remain critical challenges in emergency trauma care. Current hemostatic agents often lack shape adaptability and procoagulant efficacy. In this study, we developed a novel water-activated shape-memory composite sponge (PL@M₂) that integrates poly(ε-caprolactone)/acellular dermal matrix (PCL/ADM) scaffolds with a natural hemostatic powder puffball (Ma Bo). The hybrid structure was fabricated via freeze-drying and glutaraldehyde crosslinking, resulting in a uniform porous network with excellent mechanical stability and elasticity. Upon contact with water, PL@M₂ rapidly swelled and recovered its original shape, thereby achieving intimate tissue conformity and efficient physical sealing. In vitro studies have confirmed superior cytocompatibility, enhanced cell spreading, and significantly shortened coagulation time (∼45%). In vivo models of rat tail and liver injury demonstrated that PL@M₂ reduced hemostasis time and blood loss by over 40% compared to controls. These results highlight the synergistic effect of shape-memory responsiveness and natural bioactivity, enabling rapid, safe, and effective hemostasis, even in irregular or deep bleeding wounds. This study introduces a new design strategy for intelligent bioactive materials with strong potential for emergency and battlefield trauma applications.