Comprehensive assessment of Nile tilapia skin collagen sponges as hemostatic dressings

Nile tilapia skin collagen sponge was fabricated by lyophilization and cross-linked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide in the presence of N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS). The physicochemical properties were examined. The EDC/NHS cross-linked collagen sponge presented an enhanced water absorption capacity. In addition, biocompatibility and hemostatic efficiency were evaluated by acute systemic toxicity assay, dermal irritation test, intradermal reaction test, sensitization test, cytotoxicity, blood clotting assay in vitro, and liver and femoral artery hemorrhage models in vivo. Results showed that the produced collagen sponges before and after EDC/NHS cross-linking had excellent biocompatibility. Furthermore, EDC/NHS cross-linking promoted fibroblast cells viability and proliferation reflected by the MTT reduction assay. Meanwhile, EDC/NHS cross-linked collagen sponge exhibited the best blood clotting ability and hemostatic efficiency in rat femoral artery hemorrhage model in comparison with non-crosslinked and commercial collagen sponges. Our results demonstrated that the fabricated collagen sponges could be used as perfect hemostatic dressings.