Research progress on the hemostatic mechanism of natural bio-based gel and its application in wound healing

Natural bio-based hydrogels have emerged as a prominent research focus in the field of wound hemostasis and healing owing to their excellent biocompatibility, degradability, and functional designability. This paper systematically reviews the characteristics of their raw materials, hemostatic mechanisms, and application progress are systematically reviewed. Polysaccharide materials such as chitosan and sodium alginate achieve rapid hemostasis through electrostatic adsorption, erythrocyte aggregation, and coagulation cascade activation. Molecular modifications like carboxymethylation and quaternization significantly enhance water solubility, adhesion, and antibacterial properties. Protein materials, including collagen and gelatin rely on platelet activation and fibrin deposition but encounter challenges such as excessive animal-derived immunogenicity and poor wet adhesion. Natural polyphenols (e.g., tannic acid, tea polyphenols) enhance overall material performance via synergistic antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Multifunctional hemostatic gels integrate long-acting antibacterial agents (e.g., photothermal nanoparticles, quaternary ammonium groups), antioxidant (e.g., reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging), and intelligent responsiveness (e.g., pH/temperature) characteristics, combining with conductive materials (such as carbon nanotubes) these gels can simulate the electrophysiological microenvironment to promote chronic wound repair. Future research should focus on developing intelligent gels adapted to extreme environments. This will involve bionic dynamic-bond cross-linking designs, synthetic biology techniques for recombinant collagen production, and sequential drug delivery systems enabling the layered release of anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic factors. By integrating 3D bioprinting and precision medicine strategies, natural bio-based hydrogels are expected to achieve full-cycle management from rapid hemostasis to tissue regeneration, providing innovative solutions for war injury first aid, minimally invasive surgery, and chronic wound treatment.