Guar gum and gelatin-based hydrogel wound dressing loaded calcium-containing nanoparticles: Simpler preparation, faster hemostasis and faster pro-wound healing properties

In this work, we prepared a novel calcium-containing nanoparticles (CaNPs) and added it to a hydrogel composed of guar gum (GG) and gelatin (Gel) as a backbone to prepare a novel hydrogel (GG@Gel-Ca) with rapid hemostasis, antibacterial effect and wound healing promotion. We conducted a series of test to characterize the structure and properties of CaNPs and GG@Gel-Ca hydrogel. The results showed that CaNPs had been successfully prepared and had regular morphology, and the GG@Gel-Ca hydrogel had good swelling ability, good antibacterial ability and excellent hemocompatibility/hemostasis and perfect cytocompatibility. Animal experiments also showed that GG@Gel-Ca hydrogel was able to achieve rapid hemostasis in the rat liver hemostasis model and it could also accelerate wound healing in S. aureus infections. In summary, we developed an innovative and practical method to prepare a gentle hydrogel, employing two natural polysaccharides that remained unmodified and untreated with chemicals. By incorporating the prepared calcium nanoparticles into this hydrogel, we successfully achieved effective hemostasis. Therefore, the GG@Gel-Ca hydrogel has the potential for application as hemostatic wound dressings with antibacterial properties and good wound healing.