Fabrication of an expandable keratin sponge for improved hemostasis in a penetrating trauma

Effective hemostasis improvements for penetrating traumas remain a research priority for civilian and noncivilian applications. Herein, we fabricated an expandable keratin sponge (EKS) for the hemostatic treatment of a penetrating trauma based on the excellent hemostatic ability of keratin and the expandable property of polyacrylamide (PAM). EKSs with semi-interpenetrating networks were fabricated by radical polymerization of keratin and PAM, and the EKS showed rapid expansion upon blood absorption. This sponge exhibited effective hemostasis on a rat penetrating liver hemorrhage, and the expansion of the EKS was dependent on the bleeding volume. In addition, the results of a shear wave elastography analysis showed that the elasticity of the liver tissue increased from 12.5 kPa to 21.2 kPa after the penetrating liver trauma treated by the EKS, and the mechanical strength of the liver tissue was maintained after 1 h of the EKS application. Further in vivo tests indicated the effectiveness of the EKS for hemostasis in a swine femoral artery transection hemorrhage model. This EKS is promising for hemostatic applications.