P(TA) macro-, micro-, nanoparticle-embedded super porous p(HEMA) cryogels as wound dressing material

•Super porous cryogel embedding p(TA) particles based on natural TA was prepared.•P(HEMA)-p(TA) particles with fast swelling and good moisture retention capacities•Controllable degradation of TA from p(HEMA)-p(TA) composites are obtained.•P(HEMA)-p(TA) composites possessed hemocompatible and blood clotting ability.

Super porous poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) (p(HEMA)) cryogel was successfully synthesized by using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (p(EGDA)) crosslinker under cryogenic conditions. Poly(Tannic acid) (p(TA)) macro-, micro-, and nanoparticles prepared from a natural polyphenol, tannic acid (TA), were embedded into p(HEMA) cryogel networks to obtain composite p(TA) particle-embedded p(HEMA) cryogel. Different size ranges of spherical p(TA) particles, 2000-500 μm, 500-200 μm, 200-20 μm, and 20-0.5 μm size, were included in the cryogel network and illustrated by digital camera, optic microscope, and SEM images of the microgel-cryogel network. The swelling properties and moisture content of p(TA) microgel-embedded p(HEMA) cryogel were investigated at wound healing pH conditions such as pH 5.4, 7.4, and 9 at 37.5 °C, and the highest swelling capacity was found at pH 9 with 972 ± 2% swelling in 30 s. Higher amounts of DI water were quickly absorbed by p(HEMA)-based cryogel, and moisture retention within the cryogel structure for a longer time period at room temperature is due to existence of p(TA) particles. Degradation profiles of p(TA) particle-embedded p(HEMA) cryogel were shown to be controlled by different pH conditions, and a linear release profile was found with total cumulative release of 5.8 ± 0.8 mg/g TA up to 12 days at pH 7.4 and 37.5 °C. The antioxidant behavior of degraded p(TA) particles from p(HEMA) cryogel were found as 46 ± 1 μg mL− 1 gallic acid equivalent and 165 ± 18 mM trolox equivalent g− 1. The p(TA) particle-embedded p(HEMA) cryogel has high hemocompatibility with 0.0158 ± 0.0126% hemolysis ratio, and effective hemostatic properties with 8.1 ± 0.9 blood clotting index.

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