Evaluation of the biomedical properties of a Ca+-conjugated silk fibroin porous material.

Hemostatic materials could reduce avertible death from bleeding during surgery and emergency treatment. To this end, silk fibroin (SF) loaded with Ca2+ (1.8, 3.6 5.4, or 7.2%, w:w) was tested as a new hemostatic material (designated as SF1.8, SF3.6, SF5.4, or SF7.2), and the Ca2+ release rate, platelet adhesion, blood coagulation, cytocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties were investigated. Platelet adhesion on SF1.8 was improved significantly compared with pure SF porous material, and increased with increasing Ca2+ concentration. For SF3.6, platelet adhesion was greater than observed for gelatin and calcium alginate porous materials, clotting occurred earlier, and the complete coagulation time was shorter. Additionally, rabbit ear wound studies revealed that the hemostatic time for SF3.6 was significantly shorter than for gelatin, and similar to that for calcium alginate. The shed blood weight was lowest when SF was loaded with 7.2% Ca2+. The SF3.6 porous material displayed no obvious cytotoxicity, and exhibited satisfactory antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.