Hemostatic cotton based on biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol)/soluble starch-fish skin collagen composites

Fish skin collagen has attracted a wide range of attention in the field of hemostatic materials due to its excellent biocompatibility and hemostatic performance. In this work, the hemostatic cotton based on poly(vinyl alcohol)/soluble starch-fish skin collagen (PVA/SS-FSC) composites was prepared by solvent displacement followed by lyophilization. The experimental results showed that the PVA/SS enabled the composite material to have 3-D porous structures. When compounding with FSC, PVA/SS-FSC(1) composite cotton (mass ratio 1:1:1) possessed 3-D porous structures, good water absorption, and no cytotoxicity or hemolytic properties. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the PVA/SS-FSC(1) hemostatic cotton accelerated the coagulation rate, reduced blood loss, and improved the hemostatic efficiency. Furthermore, arterial hemostasis tests in rats confirmed that the PVA/SS-FSC(1) hemostatic cotton afforded a shorter hemostasis time (64 ± 7 s) and lower blood loss (323 ± 38 mg) compared with commercial hemostatic gauze (210 ± 12 s and 840 ± 41 mg, respectively), thus indicating promising applications in rapid wound hemostasis.