Development of an innovative cost-effective hemostatic material based on electrospun polyacrylonitrile/exfoliated bentonite/calcium chloride nanocomposite

Anti-hemorrhage nanomaterials are emerging as a promising alternative to traditional materials such as cotton and medical gauze, which often exhibit limited hemostatic properties and excessive adhesion to wound surfaces. This study presents the development of hemostatic nanofiber mats fabricated from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) via electrospinning. The incorporation into these mats of cost-effective and eco-friendly hemostatic agents, specifically exfoliated bentonite and calcium chloride, is investigated. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals significant alterations in the bentonite structure, supported by the disappearance of the (001) crystal plane peak following exfoliation. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirms the successful integration of bentonite and calcium chloride into the fiber matrix. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) illustrates a uniform morphology of continuous, randomly distributed fibers free of beads, with bentonite evenly dispersed throughout the mat. The addition of calcium chloride reduces fiber diameter without causing noticeable agglomeration. Water contact angle measurements indicate enhanced adhesion properties of the mats, with reduced hydrophobicity attributed to the water affinity of the incorporated additives. In vitro tests demonstrate that all electrospun mats exhibit superior hemostatic activity, with the most effective formulation -PAN loaded with exfoliated bentonite and calcium chloride-achieving a low blood coagulation index of 44.9% and significantly shortening blood-clotting time from 285 s in control samples to just 105 s. These findings highlight that the developed nanofiber mats outperform traditional hemostatic products in terms of eco-friendliness, blood coagulation efficiency, and clotting time, highlighting their potential for enhanced clinical applications in hemorrhage control at a reduced cost.