Preparation and evaluation of porous starch/chitosan composite cross-linking hemostatic

Composite porous starch (PS) with chitosan (CS) was easily cross-linked by sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) to obtain a hemostat called STMP/PS/CS (SPC) with ideal hemostatic effect. The water absorption ratio and swelling ratio of SPC reach up to 150.8%, 355.0% respectively and it was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that a large amount of CS was combined with PS, which indicated the composite effect was ideal. Synergistic hemostatic effect of SPC was indicated in blood cells evaluation experiment and the activation of platelets triggers a multistep cascade that produces a clot by adsorbing more blood cells on the surface of SPC. The average hemostasis time of SPC in tail amputation 1 cm, 2 cm and liver laceration was shortened by 29%, 42%, 37% respectively compared with blank control, and had better hemostatic effect than CS, PS in the hemostatic performance on the rat tail amputation and liver laceration. Besides, we found SPC displayed a superior adhesiveness in rat injuries.