MXene-enhanced nanocellulose-based hemostatic sponge with antibacterial and pro-healing

Synchronously achieving rapid hemostasis and sustained healing remains a central challenge in clinical hemostatic materials. Herein, a multifunctional nanocellulose-based hemostatic sponge (DMTC) was fabricated by using aldehyde-functionalized nanocellulose grafted with madecassoside as the matrix, incorporating MXene immobilized copper nanoparticles. The synergistic interaction between them endowed the sponge with exceptional sustained-release capability, achieving cumulative release rates of 88.8% (MA) and 5.4% (CuNPs) over 7 days, respectively. Furthermore, the inorganic-organic interfacial bonding between nanocellulose and MXene constructed a longitudinally interlaced network structure and the multi-level pore size distribution within the sponge, further enhancing its rapid hemostatic performance (2 s in vitro) and controlled release of bioactive factors. Notably, the DMTC sponge exhibited outstanding antibacterial activity, significantly inhibiting the growth of S. aureus (99.99%) and E. coli (99.99%). Additionally, the DMTC sponge achieved a wound closure rate of 95.96% within 14 days in a mouse model and excellent biosafety and biodegradability, which was significantly superior to the commercially available polyvinyl alcohol sponge. This study has expanded the application of two-dimensional materials, nano-active factors and nanocellulose in hemostatic sponges, which have broad application prospects in clinical hemostasis.