Calcium-releasing silica-coated cellulose nanofiber aerogel for safe and efficient hemostasis

Severe hemorrhage remains a leading cause of preventable death in trauma and surgical settings, underscoring the ongoing need for topical hemostats that offer rapid coagulation, robust retention, and a favorable safety profile. Here we report a calcium-releasing silica-modified cellulose nanofiber (Ca-SCNF) aerogel fabricated via a Pickering emulsion-templated approach. In this design, carboxymethyl cellulose nanofibers function both as the scaffold-forming matrix and as the template for silica-based surface modification, with Ca²⁺ incorporated as a releasable pro-coagulant component. The resulting Ca-SCNF aerogel exhibits a lightweight, highly porous structure, with negligible hemolysis (<1%), minimal heat generation and limited particle detachment. When exposed to platelet-poor plasma, Ca-SCNF aerogel increases detectable Ca²⁺ availability and promotes plasma coagulation under direct material contact. In a rat femoral artery transection model, Ca-SCNF aerogel significantly reduces hemostasis time and blood loss relative to cotton and QuikClot Combat Gauze. These findings establish Ca-SCNF aerogel as a safe and effective hemostatic agent that outperforms natural inorganic mineral-based counterparts.