Bioengineered Andrias davidianus Skin Secretion Sponge: A Sustainable Hemostatic Material with Enhanced Wound Healing Capacity

Abstract

The skin secretion of Andrias davidianus (SSAD) is a miraculous natural protein-based product with exceptional potential for treating bleeding wounds and has long been used in traditional folk medicine. However, its commercialization and societal benefits have been hindered by challenges in reproducibly manufacturing products with highly consistent properties and bacteria-free conditions. Here, we introduce a straightforward manufacturing method to produce a practically applicable hemostatic sponge derived from SSAD, which significantly enhances wound healing. To further improve antimicrobial properties, the antibacterial peptide ε-polylysine (EPL) was incorporated, resulting in composite sponges (SSAD-EPLs). The fabricated sponges exhibit excellent biocompatibility and are capable of degrading in vivo over a 21-day observation period. Compared to a commercial gelatin sponge (CGS), both SSAD and SSAD-EPL2 (containing 20% EPL) sponges demonstrated superior hemostatic performance, significantly reducing blood loss and clotting time. In a full-thickness skin defect model, SSAD and SSAD-EPL2 sponges showed remarkable efficacy in promoting wound healing and could be easily removed from the wound site without causing secondary injury. Our findings highlight the practical applicability of these sponges, not only due to their outstanding hemostatic and wound-healing properties but also because their production process ensures repeatable and sustainable manufacturing with guaranteed product consistency.