Shark skin-inspired PDA-coated and peptide-functionalized wrinkled chitosan/gelatin microspheres for hemostasis and infected wound healing

Abstract

Severe hemorrhage and its associated complications represent the primary causes of mortality among trauma patients. Consequently, the development of hemostatic materials that exhibit rapid and effective hemostatic properties, alongside favorable biocompatibility, anti-infective characteristics, and anti-inflammatory capabilities, is of paramount importance. Drawing inspiration from the structure of shark skin, this research introduces chitosan/gelatin microspheres characterized by a wrinkled morphology, which facilitate hemostasis through the mechanisms of physical adsorption and coagulation inherent to their structure. Furthermore, a thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP6) was incorporated into the microspheres via polydopamine (PDA) surface modification, enhancing the aggregation of activated platelets and red blood cells at the site of injury, thereby improving the hemostatic efficacy of the microspheres. Our findings further demonstrate that these chitosan/gelatin microspheres promote the healing of infected wounds, showcasing significant hemostatic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the capacity to mitigate oxidative stress. Thus, the chitosan/gelatin microspheres developed in this study hold considerable promise for widespread application in hemostasis and the management of various infected wounds.