Fabrication of microspheres containing coagulation factors by reverse microemulsion method for rapid hemostasis and wound healing

Abstract

Traditional dressings, such as bandages, gauze, and cotton pads stick to new granulation tissue, thereby aggravating wound injury or causing secondary injury during replacement. Microspheres that are biodegradable and adaptable to various wound shapes are a good alternative to traditional dressings. In this work, a novel microsphere was prepared by reverse microemulsion method using sodium alginate and silk peptide (SP) as the aqueous phase. After cross-linking by Ca2+, calcium alginate (CA) and SP composite microspheres called CA/SP were prepared. By adjusting the SP content, the swelling rate of microspheres reached 1050 % and the pore diameter reached 19.59 nm. In addition, the introducing SP provided a stable loading site for thrombin (Th). This platform (called CA/SP@Th)—integrating rapid blood enrichment, calcium release, and Th catalysis—can ensure rapid hemostasis in a variety of bleeding models. Additionally, the SP present in this modality also promoted fibroblast proliferation, this increased the wound closure rate in a total cortex injury mouse model (more than 97 % within 15 days). Therefore, CA/SP@Th can be used as a multifunctional dressing for rapid hemostasis and wound healing.