Plant-derived oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose-chitosan composite as an absorbable hemostat

In this study, a new absorbable hemostat was developed with two most abundantly found natural polymers. Oxidized nanofibrillar cellulose (ONFC)-chitosan (Ch) sponge was prepared by lyophilization at a volume ratio of 50:50. Cytotoxicity and cell proliferation studies revealed that the sponge was non-cytotoxic and the cell proliferated continuously on the sponge. ONFC-Ch sponge showed better hemostatic effect on hepatic trauma than ONFC sponge. Both sponges were implanted on hepatic trauma for 1 and 3 weeks. ONFC-Ch sponge showed greater degree biodegradability and biocompatibility. Thus, ONFC-Ch sponge can be considered as a potential hemostatic material.