Engineering air-in-water emulsion as adaptable multifunctional sealant

Abstract

Immediate hemorrhage control and wound closure play important roles in soft-tissue wound management. Developing adaptable sealant dressings with multi-functions to accelerate wound healing is highly demanded but remains challenging. In this study, we report a macroporous nano-enabled sealant based on gelatin methacryloyl stabilized air-in-water emulsions combined with Laponite nanoclays and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The sealant demonstrates tunable pore size, robust mechanical properties, conductivity and wet-adhesiveness. Imparting macroporous structures and nanoclays, the biocompatible sealant could well support cell adhesion and proliferation, and reveal promising in vitro blood clotting ability as well as haemostatic performance in a rat liver lethal hemorrhage model in vivo. Furthermore, the results from a full-thickness skin defect model clearly demonstrate this conductive macroporous nano-enabled sealant could significantly promote granular tissue growth and collagen deposition thus accelerated wound healing process.