Self-restoring cryogels used for the repair of hemorrhagic bone defects by modulating blood clots

Bleeding from severe traumatic bone defects poses a significant threat to patient survival, and conventional hemostatic agents prove inadequate for addressing bone defects when pressure application is not feasible. Therefore, the development of a bio-multifunctional material with outstanding hemostatic and osteogenic performances is highly desirable. In this study, chitosan/hydroxyapatite nanowires cryogels (CSHAn) were fabricated via schiff base reaction and electrostatic interaction. These CSHAn cryogels demonstrate an impressive absorption capacity, reaching up to 5387 %, and possess considerable mechanical strength, quantified at 167.92 kPa, along with significant compressive recovery capabilities. CSHAn cryogels demonstrate superior blood-clotting ability, enhanced blood cell and platelet adhesion, and activation compared to gelatin sponges. Moreover, in vitro cellular assessments indicate that the developed CSHAn2 exhibits favorable cytocompatibility and significantly promote osteogenesis by upregulating the formation of alkaline phosphatase and calcium nodules. Taken together, this multi-functional cryogels is potentially valuable for clinical applications towards hemorrhagic bone defect repair.