Recent advances in the application of clay-containing hydrogels for hemostasis and wound healing

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Immediate control of bleeding and anti-infection play important roles in wound management. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death may occur if persistent bleeding, hemodynamic instability, and hypoxemia are not addressed. The combination of clay and hydrogel provides a new outlet for wound hemostasis. In this review, the current research progress of hydrogel/clay composite hemostatic agents was reviewed.

Areas covered

This paper summarizes the characteristics of several kinds of clay including kaolinite, montmorillonite, laponite, sepiolite, and palygorskite. The advantages and disadvantages of its application in hemostasis were also summarized. Future directions for the application of hydrogel/clay composite hemostatic agents are presented.

Expert opinion

Clay can activate the endogenous hemostatic pathway by increasing blood cell concentration and promoting plasma absorption to accelerate the hemostasis. Clay is antimicrobial due to the slow release of metal ions and has a rich surface charge with a high affinity for proteins and cells to promote tissue repair. Hydrogels have some properties such as good biocompatibility, strong adhesion, high stretchability, and good self-healing. Despite promising advances, hydrogel/clay composite hemostasis remains a limitation. Therefore, more evidence is needed to further elucidate the risk factors and therapeutic effects of hydrogel/clay in hemostasis and wound healing.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Clay
• hydrogel
• hemostatic
• wound dressing
• crosslinking

Article highlights

• This review explores the applications and recent advances in clay-based hemostatic materials.

• The advantages and disadvantages of -based hemostatic materials were also summarized.

• The discussed clays include kaolinite, montmorillonite, laponite, sepiolite, and palygorskite, etc.

• Certain clays can activate the blood coagulation, however, impurities in clay tend to cause slow healing or scarring.

• The review also presented future directions for the application of hydrogel/clay composite hemostatic agents.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported Shanghai Rising-Star Program [20QA1407200].