Nonwoven Hemostatic Dressings Formed by Contact Drawing of Interposed Polyethylene Oxide (PEO)-Fibrinogen and PEO-Thrombin Microfibers

Textiles containing interposed layers of polyethylene oxide (PEO)-fibrinogen and PEO-thrombin fibers are explored as biomaterials for hemostasis. The PEO-fibrinogen and PEO-thrombin fibers are formed by contact drawing, an approach that uses an entangled polymer solution and a pin array to form fibers by extension of liquid bridges. The interposition of the PEO-fibrinogen and PEO-thrombin fibers results in polymerization of a fibrin hydrogel mesh once the textile is hydrated. This fibrin hydrogel mesh displays the expected bands and diffraction peaks by Fourier-transform infrared spectromicroscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The functionality of the hemostatic textiles formed from the interposed PEO-fibrinogen and PEO-thrombin fibers is demonstrated by analyzing human blood hemolysis, complement activation, protein adsorption, and platelet and leukocyte adhesion, indicating compatibility with human blood (hemolysis ratio <5%), with minimal inflammatory response (levels of terminal complement complex equivalent to plasma). The cytocompatibility and potential for cell remodeling of the fibrin hydrogel mesh formed by this process is evaluated with human dermal fibroblasts and human keratinocytes and it is found that both cell types attach and grow on the fibrin mesh. Finally, a whole blood clotting time of less than 30 s suggests a potential use of this material in hemorrhage control.