Chitosan/rectorite nanocomposite with injectable functionality for skin hemostasis

Many animals such as snails and Chinese giant salamanders can secrete mucus for moisturizing, eliminating swelling and inflammation, and promoting wound healing; this implies that high viscous bio-functional materials inspired by mucus may show potential for biomedical applications. Herein, we developed a maltose-like injectable nanocomposite via the combination of chitosan polysaccharide and clay rectorite for hemostasis. Through the hemostatic property of rectorite, the viscous nanocomposite decreased the in vitro clotting time by 43%. Moreover, an in vitro porcine skin model confirmed that the viscous nanocomposite can stably adhere on skin and impede blood bleeding successfully. Importantly, the internal structure of the nanocomposites, chitosan intercalating into rectorite interlayers, provided a physical cross-linked network to decrease the release of rectorite from the nanocomposite and its invasion into the blood. Therefore, this viscous injectable nanocomposite provided a concept for a facile and sustainable biomaterial for skin hemostasis.