Smart aligned multi-layered conductive cryogels with hemostasis and breathability for coagulopathy epistaxis, nasal mucosal repair and bleeding monitoring

Abstract

Control of epistaxis in patients with coagulation disorders is a major problem in the field of hemostasis, while nasal packing is the most effective and widely used treatment, but most of the existing nasal packing hemostat show low hemostasis efficiency, unable to guarantee the normal respiration of patients, cannot promote nasal mucosal repair and monitor bleeding. Inspired by the layer-by-layer structure of QuikClot combat gauge, we report a smart transversal aligned channels cryogel (TACC) based on catechol-modified polyvinyl alcohol, quaternized chitosan and carbon nanotubes for coagulopathy epistaxis, nasal mucosal repair and bleeding monitoring. Compared to random porous cryogel and longitudinal aligned multi-layered cryogel, the TACC showed better hemostatic performance and breathability, and the excellent conductivity gives TACC bleeding monitoring ability. The advantages of antibacterial, antioxidant and absorption of mucosal exudates of TACC can promote nasal mucosal repair. Finally, TACC shows better hemostatic effect than polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge in rabbit epistaxis model with or without coagulation disorders, and can effectively promote nasal mucosal repair. In summary, the TACC shows excellent coagulopathy nasal hemostasis and mucosal repair, breathability and bleeding monitoring ability, which provides a new strategy for the treatment of coagulopathy epistaxis and have great potential in bleeding monitoring.