A collagen/silk fibroin/magnesium hydroxide multifunctional sponge with enhanced mechanical strength, rapid hemostasis, and antibacterial properties for promoting infectious wound healing

Hemostatic intervention at the bleeding site during early-phase wound management plays a crucial role in reducing trauma-induced complications and mortality, while advanced wound dressings facilitate hemorrhage control, exudate management, and antimicrobial protection to promote optimal healing outcomes. To address these issues, we developed a multifunctional collagen/silk fibroin/Mg(OH)₂ (Col/SF/Mg(OH)₂) composite sponge combining enhanced mechanical strength, rapid hemostasis, and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The incorporation of silk fibroin (SF) through covalent crosslinking increased the elastic modulus by 4.72-fold while maintaining favorable porosity (88.16 ± 5.13 %) and water retention capacity (>25 % after 2 h). Magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles (Mg(OH)₂ NPs) endowed the sponge with potent antibacterial efficacy, achieving satisfactory bacterial survival rates for both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by interfering with bacterial metabolic pathways. In vivo studies demonstrated accelerated wound closure with rapid hemostasis, enhanced angiogenesis, and collagen deposition. This sponge exhibited excellent hemostatic performance (<30 mg blood loss) and biocompatibility, outperforming commercial gelatin-based materials. In conclusion, the composite porous sponge dressings described in this study offer a promising outlook for clinical wound hemostasis because of their outstanding hemostatic and antibacterial features.