Antheraea pernyi silk nanofibrillar sponge for ultra-fast hemostasis

The development of hemostatic materials with fast hemostasis and minimal blood loss remains a clinical challenge. In this study, a nanofibrillar hemostasis sponge with ultra-fast hemostasis and low blood loss was developed. The unique fibrillar bundle structure of Antheraea pernyi silk allowed for mass-production of nanofibrils through mechanical nanofibrillation. Nanofibrillar sponges were produced by freeze-drying, and a tunable pore structure was developed through temperature/solvent-mediated ice crystal growth. The nanofibrillar sponge exhibited exceptional water resistance due to the formation of robust bonds between the Antheraea pernyi silk nanofibrils and added hyaluronic acid. The nanofibrillar sponges demonstrated exceptional hemostatic performance as a result of their strong liquid-absorbing ability, ultra-high specific surface area, and nanofibrous structure. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the hemostatic effect of nanofibrillar sponges was significantly influenced by the pore structure. The sponges with smaller pores were capable of absorbing blood at a faster rate and efficiently capturing platelets and red blood cells, thereby expediting blood coagulation. The animal experiments demonstrated that the optimized nanofibrillar sponge could achieve ultra-fast hemostasis and minimize blood loss. This study expands the applications of natural silk nanofibrils as a biomedical material and provides options for the development of high-performance hemostatic materials.