Preparation and characterization of cellulose/flaxseed gum composite hydrogel and its hemostatic and wound healing functions evaluation

Abstract The composite hydrogel was prepared with cellulose and flaxseed gum and characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmitt–Teller (BET) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The swelling property, drug adsorption, biocompatibility and hemostatic function of composite hydrogel were investigated. The composite hydrogel had the pore structure and exhibited high stability with a thermal decomposition temperature of 332.66 °C. And the composite hydrogel showed excellent swelling capability with a moisture expansivity of over 200%, and with a drug adsorption capacity of 7.27 ± 0.15 mg/g. Mechanical properties tests showed that as the proportion of flaxseed gum increased, the ability to withstand pressure of hydrogel was improved. In addition, MTT assay, flow cytometry analysis, and in vivo toxicological evaluation suggested that composite hydrogel had good biocompatibility. Moreover, hemostatic potential assay and wound healing were made in order to evaluate the effect of hemostasis and wound healing of composite hydrogel and our results indicated that the composite hydrogel with cellulose and flaxseed gum could be effective to promote hemostatic and wound healing function. All in all, the great properties exhibited by the composite hydrogel could make it a potential candidate as biomaterial in bleeding and wound treatment. Graphic abstract