Inherent Antibacterial and Instant Swelling ε-Poly-Lysine/ Poly(ethylene glycol) Diglycidyl Ether Superabsorbent for Rapid Hemostasis and Bacterially Infected Wound Healing

Severe traumatic bleeding control and wound-related anti-infection play a crucial role in saving lives and promoting wound healing for both the military and the clinic. In this contribution, an inherent antibacterial and instant swelling ε-poly-lysine/poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (EPPE) superabsorbent was developed by a simple mild ring-opening reaction. The as-prepared EPPE1 displayed a porous structure and rough surface and exhibited instant water-triggered expansion with approximately 6300% swelling ratio in deionized water. Moreover, EPPE1 presented efficient pro-coagulation capacity by hemadsorption that can facilitate blood cell gathering and activation in vitro and exhibited a shorter in vivo hemostasis time than that of commercial gelatin sponge and CELOX in both rat tail amputation and noncompressible rat liver lethal defect model. Also, EPPE1 showed excellent antibacterial capacity, prominent biocompatibility, and great biodegradability. Additionally, EPPE1 significantly promotes in vivo wound healing in a full-thickness skin defect model due to its great hemostasis behavior and remarkable bactericidal performance. Hence, EPPE has great potential for serving as an extensively applied hemostatic agent under varied clinical conditions.