Polydopamine-modified gauze/mixed-dimensional palygorskite clay composites for improving wound haemostasis

Abstract Rapid and efficient haemostasis is key to controlling bleeding and reducing mortality, and so it is necessary to design high-performance haemostatic materials. Here, haemostatic gauze composites were facilely prepared based on dopamine polymerization modification of gauze and simultaneous impregnation loading of mixed-dimensional palygorskite clay (MDPal). The haemostatic performance of gauze composites was systematically evaluated in comparison with a commercially available gauze impregnated with kaolin. The results confirmed that no obvious changes were observed regarding the water vapour transmittance and water absorption of the gauze after coating with polydopamine and MDPal. Blood coagulation studies indicated that the optimal gauze composites prepared with 200 mg of dopamine after reaction for 6.5 h presented superior haemostatic properties according to the in vitro blood-clotting index, the coagulation kinetics of platelet-poor plasma coagulation, erythrocyte adhesion behaviour and thrombus formation. The haemorrhage effects on rat liver bleeding suggested that the blood losses with the gauze composites were 8.52% and 29.45% less than that of the blank group. In addition, the coagulation time decreased by 38.12% compared with the blank group. Furthermore, the gauze composites exhibited good biocompatibility as evaluated by haemolysis rate and cytotoxicity assays. Thus, the obtained gauze composites can serve as promising candidates for rapid wound haemostasis.