DNA hydrogel based Wound Hemostatic Adjuvant

Severe traumatic bleeding may lead to extremely high mortality rates, and early intervention to stop bleeding plays as a critical role in saving lives. However, rapid hemostasis in deep non-compressible trauma using a highly water-absorbent hydrogel, combined with strong tissue adhesion and bionic procoagulant mechanism, remains a challenge. In this study, a DNA hydrogel (DNAgel) network composed of natural nucleic acids with rapid water absorption, high swelling and instant tissue adhesion is reported, like a “band-aidâ€� to physically stop bleeding. The excellent swelling behavior and robust mechanical performance, meanwhile, enable the DNAgel band-aid to fill the defect cavity and exert pressure on the bleeding vessels, thereby achieving “compression hemostasisâ€� for deep tissue bleeding sites. The DNAgel network also acts as an artificial DNA scaffold for erythrocytes to adhere and aggregate, and activates platelets, promoting coagulation cascade in a bionic way. The DNAgel achieves lower blood loss than commercial gelatin sponge (GS) in rat trauma models. In vivo evaluation in a full-thickness skin incision model also demonstrated the ability of DNAgel for promoting wound healing. Overall, the DNAgel band-aid with great hemostatic capacity is a promising candidate for rapid hemostasis and wound healing.严重创伤性出血可导致极高的死亡率，早期止血干预在挽救生命中发挥关键作用。然而，针对深部不可压迫创伤，采用兼具强组织粘附性与仿生促凝机制的高吸水性水凝胶实现快速止血仍是一项挑战。本研究报道了一种由天然核酸构成的脱氧核糖核酸水凝胶（DNA hydrogel，DNAgel）网络，该网络具备快速吸水、高溶胀与即时组织粘附特性，如同「创可贴」一般实现物理止血。与此同时，其优异的溶胀性能与出色的机械性能，使得该DNAgel创可贴能够填充缺损腔并对出血血管施加压力，从而为深部组织出血部位实现「压迫止血」。该DNAgel网络还可作为人工DNA支架供红细胞黏附聚集，并激活血小板，以仿生方式促进凝血级联反应。在大鼠创伤模型中，该DNAgel的失血量低于商用明胶海绵（GS）；在全层皮肤切口模型中的体内评价也证实了其促进伤口愈合的能力。总体而言，具备优异止血性能的DNAgel创可贴是实现快速止血与伤口愈合的极具潜力的候选材料。