Silkworm Cocoon—Derived Carbon Dots for Post-Trauma Hemostasis and Tissue Repair
<b>Background:</b> Traumatic hemorrhage management is challenging due to the need to control severe bleeding and support tissue repair. An ideal material would possess both hemostatic and wound-healing properties. <b>Methods:</b> Silkworm cocoon-derived carbon dots (SC-CDs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. After physical and chemical characterization using techniques such as HR-TEM and XPS, their hemostatic efficacy was assessed in rat liver injury, tail transection, and mouse coagulation disorder models. Moreover, the effects of the SC-CDs on platelet aggregation and activation were evaluated. The potential of the SC-CDs to promote wound healing was investigated through cell scratch assays and a mouse full-thickness skin defect model. <b>Results:</b> The SC-CDs showed a high quantum yield (12.9% ± 0.42%), with low hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity. In the hemostasis models, the SC-CDs significantly reduced the bleeding time and volume. In the rat liver injury model, the bleeding time was shortened from 152.67 ± 4.16 s (Control) to 55.33 ± 9.50 s (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the rat tail transection model, the bleeding volume was reduced from 1.71 ± 0.16 g (Control) to 0.4 ± 0.11 g (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the mouse coagulation disorder model, an 8 mg/kg dose reduced the bleeding volume to 11.80% ± 0.39% of that of the Control (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Mechanistic studies suggested enhanced platelet activation and aggregation. In the wound healing experiments, the SC-CDs reduced the wound area (88.53 ± 11.78 mm<sup>2</sup> (Control) vs. 70.07 ± 6.71 mm<sup>2</sup> (SC-CDs), <i>p</i> < 0.05) and promoted fibroblast migration (24 h scratch width: 372.34 ± 9.06 μm (Control) vs. 259.49 ± 36.75 μm (SC-CDs), <i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> SC-CDs show promise for hemorrhage management and tissue regeneration, with potential applications in cases of internal bleeding or coagulation disorders.
Authors
- Xiaoxia Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3580-1997)
- Hui Gan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4960-1507)
- Ruolan Gu
- Shu‐Chen Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6959-2495)
- Miaomiao Yao
- Guifang Dou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5004-2194)
- Lintao Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1298-2561)
- Xinru Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5755-0650)
- Yunbo Sun
- Zhiyun Meng
- Xuan Qiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6514-7658)
- Zhuona Wu
Institutions
- Anhui Medical University (CN)
- Beijing Radiation Center (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pharmaceuticals
- Published
- 2025-04-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18050603
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.55