Preparation and Study of Hemostatic Materials Based on Chitosan and Chitin Nanofibrils

Abstract

The natural polymer chitin and its derivative chitosan are among the most promising polymers to create hemostatic materials. Composite fibers with different ratios of chitin nanofibrils were obtained by wet spinning. Study of the mechanical characteristics of composite fibers has shown that the introduction of a small amount of chitin nanofibrils, approximately 0.5 wt %, is accompanied by the strengthening of the fibers, while the use of high concentrations leads to an increase in the resistance of the fibers to the impacts of a wet environment. A nonwoven fabric obtained from the composite fibers has shown efficacy comparable to the commercial hemostatic agents Surgicel and Tachocomb. The assessment of the interaction of the developed materials in the body was carried out in in vivo experiments. It has been shown that chitosan fibers have a bioinert character. The formation of a dense connective tissue capsule around the implanted fiber was observed on the 91st day, which indicates a low rate of its resorption in the subfascia. A histological study of the interaction of the developed materials with the tissues of a living organism showed the presence of numerous giant multinucleated cells in the area of implantation.