N‐dodecylated chitosan/graphene oxide composite cryogel for hemostasis and antibacterial treatment

Abstract

Abstract Uncontrolled massive bleeding remains a global issue, which requires an exigent response for safe and efficient hemostat. However, most of hemostats without antimicrobial property could trigger serious bacterial infection problem. Herein, a composite cryogel was synthesized by double bond N‐dodecylated chitosan (DCSG) and graphene oxide (GO). The cryogel (DCSG/GO) with macroporous structure exhibited high‐fluid adsorption ability, excellent mechanical property, and fluid‐triggered shape recovery performance. Moreover, the in vitro blood coagulation experiments proved that DCSG/GO 5% possessed better coagulation efficiency than medical gelatin sponge. And the DCSG/GO 5% cryogel exhibited more erythrocyte and platelets activation. Besides, the cryogel had excellent near‐infrared (NIR)‐assisted photothermal antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and killed 99% of them after 20 min NIR irradiation. In addition, the vitro hemolysis and cytotoxicity results proved the well biocompatibility of cryogel. Therefore, the biocompatible DCSG/GO cryogel has great potential application prospect in clinical hemorrhage control and anti‐infection treatment.