Rapid in situ hepatic hemostasis using a P34HB/tranexamic acid fibrous membrane delivered by a handheld electrospinning apparatus

In the current study, fibrous membrane based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co-4-hydroxybutyrate) (P34HB) and tranexamic acid (TA) were manufactured by a handheld electrospinning apparatus for the first time. Electrospun fibers were fabricated using 6% P34HB with different concentrations of TA particles(10, 20, and 30 wt%). The structure of the fiber was observed under an electron microscope, and the properties of the material were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The release rate of TA was measured, and Alamar Blue staining and Live/dead staining were used to detect cell proliferation and biocompatibility. Animal experiments were done to verify the hemostatic effect on the liver. SEM showed that the electrospun fiber had a micro-/nanostructure with a diameter of 100 nm to 3 μm. XRD and FTIR showed that P34HB and TA were not chemically cross-linked in the fiber membrane. As the TA concentration increased, the hydrophilicity of the fiber increased, and the release rate of TA was 50% at 30 s, 70% at 30 min, and approximately 90% at 1 h. Alamar Blue staining and Live/dead staining confirmed that P-20%TA had low cytotoxicity to human endothelial cells and rat hepatocytes, in vivo experiments confirmed that P-20%TA achieved rapid hemostasis of the liver within 10–20 s, HE staining indicated that P34HB was partially degraded in the body by 1 week, and neovascular tissue formation was observed in the wound. Therefore, our results can be employed for biomaterials aimed at immediately stop bleeding and promote the repair of liver wound.