Uncontrolled bleeding in wet or actively hemorrhaging environments remains a major clinical challenge in trauma management and surgical procedures. Conventional hemostatic agents and tissue adhesives often exhibit insufficient adhesion strength and delayed coagulation upon contact with blood or moisture at the tissue interface. Inspired by the underwater adhesion mechanism of barnacle cement, we developed an injectable, multifunctional hemostatic adhesive that achieves rapid coagulation, strong adhesion to wet tissues, and inherent antibacterial properties. The adhesive integrates a silicone oil-assisted water-displacement phase with a bioadhesive polymer network composed of carboxymethyl chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and quaternized chitosan. In vitro tests revealed a markedly reduced blood clotting index (9.0% ± 0.6%) and shorter clotting time (2.6 ± 0.5 min), surpassing the performance of commercial gelatin sponges. Enhanced red blood cell adsorption and superior wet tissue adhesion strength (27.3 kPa on porcine skin) compared to fibrin glue further confirm its hemostatic efficacy. The adhesive also demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility and significant antibacterial activity. Overall, this barnacle-inspired injectable adhesive offers a promising approach for achieving rapid hemostasis and infection-resistant wound sealing in moist clinical settings.
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2026 The Author(s). MedComm - Biomaterials and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Sichuan International Medical Exchange & Promotion Association (SCIMEA).
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