Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE Herein, ZnS/SF composite fiber membranes were prepared via electrospinning and in situ hydrothermal synthesis. The composites exhibited pH-responsive Zn2+ release and synergistic hemostatic effects, showing great potential for wound hemostasis applications.

ABSTRACT
Effective hemostatic materials are vital for managing infected wounds and promoting healing. In this work, silk fibroin (SF) nanofiber membranes were fabricated via electrospinning technology. ZnS nanoparticles (ZnS NPs) were loaded onto the SF fiber membranes using the in situ polymer matrix growth method, yielding ZnS/SF hemostatic nanofibers. The composite fiber membranes produced under the optimized conditions were successfully loaded with nanoscale ZnS particles. The water contact angle, liquid absorption rate and blood coagulation index (BCI) of ZnS/SF fiber membranes were respectively characterized as 17.16° ± 1.23°, 397.13% ± 3.17%, and 15.15% ± 1.16%, which demonstrated excellent wettability, exceptional liquid absorption capacity and significant coagulation-promoting efficacy. Additionally, cytotoxicity test results showed no cytotoxicity of the material at low concentration. Furthermore, the hemostatic mechanism of ZnS/SF fiber membranes was elucidated by combining the experimental results of erythrocyte aggregation, platelet adhesion, and protein adsorption. Upon contact with the slightly acidic wound microenvironment, the ZnS NPs-loaded SF-based fiber membrane releases Zn2+. Zn2+ electrostatically adsorbs red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and activates platelets to accelerate thrombin and fibrin generation, promoting hemostasis. Additionally, the membrane's three-dimensional network structure and excellent absorption capacity concentrate these components at the wound site, thus accelerating hemostasis and facilitating wound healing.