Silkworm Cocoon-Derived Carbon Dots for Post-Trauma Hemostasis and Tissue Repair.

Traumatic hemorrhage management is challenging due to the need to control severe bleeding and support tissue repair. An ideal material would possess both hemostatic and wound-healing properties. Silkworm cocoon-derived carbon dots (SC-CDs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. After physical and chemical characterization using techniques such as HR-TEM and XPS, their hemostatic efficacy was assessed in rat liver injury, tail transection, and mouse coagulation disorder models. Moreover, the effects of the SC-CDs on platelet aggregation and activation were evaluated. The potential of the SC-CDs to promote wound healing was investigated through cell scratch assays and a mouse full-thickness skin defect model. The SC-CDs showed a high quantum yield (12.9% ± 0.42%), with low hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity. In the hemostasis models, the SC-CDs significantly reduced the bleeding time and volume. In the rat liver injury model, the bleeding time was shortened from 152.67 ± 4.16 s (Control) to 55.33 ± 9.50 s ( < 0.05). In the rat tail transection model, the bleeding volume was reduced from 1.71 ± 0.16 g (Control) to 0.4 ± 0.11 g ( < 0.05). In the mouse coagulation disorder model, an 8 mg/kg dose reduced the bleeding volume to 11.80% ± 0.39% of that of the Control ( < 0.05). Mechanistic studies suggested enhanced platelet activation and aggregation. In the wound healing experiments, the SC-CDs reduced the wound area (88.53 ± 11.78 mm (Control) vs. 70.07 ± 6.71 mm (SC-CDs), < 0.05) and promoted fibroblast migration (24 h scratch width: 372.34 ± 9.06 μm (Control) vs. 259.49 ± 36.75 μm (SC-CDs), < 0.05). SC-CDs show promise for hemorrhage management and tissue regeneration, with potential applications in cases of internal bleeding or coagulation disorders.