Fabrication of injectable and superelastic nanofiber rectangle matrices (peanuts) and their potential applications in hemostasis

Uncontrolled hemorrhage, which typically involves the torso and/or limb junctional zones, remains a great challenge in the prehospital setting. Here, we for the first time report an injectable and superelastic nanofiber rectangle matrix (peanut) fabricated by a combination of electrospinning, gas foaming, hydrogel coating and crosslinking techniques. The compressed nanofiber peanut is capable of re expanding to its original shape in atmosphere, water and blood within 10 s. Such nanofiber peanuts exhibit greater capacity of water/blood absorption compared to current commercial products and high efficacy in whole blood clotting assay, in particular for thrombin-immobilized samples. These nanofiber peanuts are capable of being packed into a syringe for injection. Further in vivo tests indicated the effectiveness of nanofiber peanuts for hemostasis in a porcine liver injury model. This new class of nanofiber-based materials may hold great promise for hemostatic applications. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.