Preparation and characterization of absorbable hemostat crosslinked gelatin sponges for surgical applications

The aim of this study, is synthesis of an absorbable hemostat gelatin sponge crosslinked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC). The effects of various gelatin contents and crosslinking agent concentrations, freezing temperature on the mechanical properties, rate of biodegradation in 24 h, hemolytic ability and cell viability of sponges were investigated. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that freezing temperature had a significant effect on the structure and density of sponges. SEM views of the sponges demonstrated that they have pores with mean diameters of 180–280 μm. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated that there is no residual of the crosslinking agent in the structure of final gelatin sponges because of C–N bonds (urea derivatives) absence. The sample with 1% gelatin and 0.05% EDC freezed at −25 °C (before freeze-drying) showed more than 0.37 cm−1 UV absorption of hemoglobin or blood clotting in half an hour. The compression modulus of the same sample was more than 150 kPa and percentage of degradation was about 28% in 24 h.