Biodegradable alginate-based sponge with antibacterial and shape memory properties for penetrating wound hemostasis

Massive bleeding from deep penetrating wounds and bacterial infections are serious challenges for clinical and outdoor wound management. In this study, different molar ratios of chitosan (CS) and dopamine (DA) were covalently combined with sodium alginate (SA) through EDC/NHS to form complexes. Then, the cross-linking reaction was performed to form a sponge by adding sodium periodate. The CS 3 /SA/DA 1 compress sponge has rapid blood-triggered recovery properties that can quickly expand to block wounds and prevent bleeding. The CS 3 /SA/DA 1 has better coagulation ability than commercial gelatin sponges and gauze in a mouse liver injury/leg vein model and lethal incompressible hemorrhage model of a rabbit liver defect. The outstanding advantages of CS 3 /SA/DA 1 in degradation performance, antibacterial properties, antioxidation, hemocompatibility, cytocompatibility and histocompatibility present great application prospects in incompressible wound hemostasis. • The hemostasis sponge has excellent fixed property of shape. • The hemostasis sponge has rapid water/blood triggered recovery properties. • The compress sponge can quickly expand after absorbing blood to block wounds. • The sponge exhibit degradability, antibacterial and hemostasis performance.