Translating Traditional Chinese Medicine Into Advanced Hemostatic and Wound Healing Sponges

ABSTRACT

Uncontrolled hemorrhage complicated by bacterial infection remains a critical challenge in trauma management. Developing multifunctional materials that integrate rapid hemostasis with antibacterial protection is essential for improving clinical outcomes. In this study, polysaccharides from four Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs)— Polygonatum Sibiricum , Astragalus Membranaceus , Bletilla Striata , and Dendrobium Officinale —were selected via network pharmacology and fabricated into hemostatic sponges using a one‐pot periodate oxidation method. The resulting sponges exhibited robust hemostatic efficacy, significantly outperforming commercial Gelatin in lethal femoral artery, liver injury, and tail amputation models. Mechanistic analysis revealed that this performance arises from a synergistic interplay of capillary‐driven blood concentration, aldehyde‐mediated tissue adhesion, and intrinsic bioactivity that triggers platelet activation and accelerates fibrin network formation. Notably, structure‐function profiling identified distinct performance advantages: the Astragalus Membranaceus ‐derived sponge (APS) demonstrated the fastest absorption kinetics and strongest platelet activation for acute hemostasis, while the Bletilla Striata ‐derived sponge (BPS) and Dendrobium Officinale ‐ derived sponge (DPS) provided an optimal balance of clotting efficiency and regenerative potential. In infected full‐thickness skin defects, the sponges significantly accelerated healing by eliminating bacteria and promoting granulation tissue formation, angiogenesis, and collagen maturation. This work demonstrates that rationally engineered TCM polysaccharides can serve as advanced, bioactive scaffolds for the simultaneous management of hemorrhage and wound infection.