Bioinspired green degradable tannic acid-gelatin sponges for rapid hemostasis and wound repair

Uncontrolled bleeding is associated with a higher risk of death, particularly during military conflicts, traffic accidents, and surgeries. In this study, an effective one-pot method for preparing a green biodegradable hemostatic sponge (TA@Gel) without any polymerization was developed by combining gelatin and tannic acid, two common natural materials. The hemostatic sponge was characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XRD), X-photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and ultraviolet radiation (UV), before their commercial prospects were demonstrated using three separate animal models. Interestingly, TA5@Gel hemostatic sponges exhibited better and faster hemostatic performance than current hemostat options in vitro and in vivo. Exploration of their hemostatic mechanisms showed that the TA5@Gel sponges significantly promoted blood coagulation by rapidly aggregating blood components, activating platelets and coagulation cascade. Besides being efficient in hemostasis, TA5@Gel could also be used for effective repair of cutaneous wounds owing to its biodegradability, excellent cytocompatibility, antioxidant activity and adhesion ability. Therefore, the TA5@Gel sponge has considerable potential for practical application in clinical settings.