Current tissue adhesives are challenged by uncontrolled post-traumatic hemorrhage and infection due to inadequate wet adhesion, prolonged setting time, potential cytotoxicity, and insufficient integration of key biological functionalities-specifically antimicrobial and pro-healing capabilities-for effective wound management. Herein, this work proposes a self-stabilizing, water-responsive coacervate powder composed of coenzyme-based polymers (α-lipoic acid/sodium α-lipoate, PLA/Na), tannic acid (TA), and ε-polylysine (PLys), abbreviated as PLA/Na@TA/PLys, to provide a one-stop solution for rapid tissue sealing under challenging environments (e.g., wet, contaminated, intraoperative, or irregular wounds), and for improved healthcare outcomes. Upon hydration, the powder undergoes ultra-rapid self-gelation (<10 s), conformally adhering to irregular wet tissues with exceptional performance (adhesion strength: 69.55 kPa; burst pressure: 216.23 mmHg). It achieves rapid hemostasis (<20 s) in arterial, tail transection, and non-compressible visceral bleeding models (liver, spleen, heart) with no rebleeding, outperforming commercial hemostats. Additionally, the powder exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial/anti-biofilm activity and promotes vascular endothelial cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis. In full-thickness skin defects, it accelerates wound healing by mitigating inflammation and stimulating regeneration. With its facile storage, convenient application, and high biosafety, PLA/Na@TA/PLys represents a versatile bioadhesive with significant translational potential for emergency hemostasis, infection prevention, and tissue repair in clinical settings.
Li et al. (Fri,) studied this question.