Low-temperature plasma-treated polyethylene oxide for hemostasis and skin wound healing.

[Display omitted] • A CAPEO hemostatic powder was synthesized via a low-temperature plasma irradiation (LTPI) technique. • The hydrophilicity of CAPEO was improved by grafting –COOH and –NH 2. • The hemostatic ability of CAPEO was proved by in vitro and in vivo studies. • CAPEO could promote re-epithelialization, collagen deposition, and wound healing in a rat skin wound model. The development of a hemostatic material capable of controlling substantial blood loss in wound healing scenarios remains a critical challenge in clinical practice. Herein, we treated polyethylene oxide (PEO) with low-temperature plasma irradiation (LTPI) technology in the air, and the modified PEO (CAPEO) was obtained with carboxyl (–COOH) and amine (–NH 2) groups. Notably, CAPEO exhibited excellent hydrophilicity, great cytocompatibility, and blood compatibility. Platelets could be activated more and clotting time could be shorter with the treatment of CAPEO than with PEO. More importantly, in the rat liver hemorrhage model, the blood loss in CAPEO (95.8 mg) was less than in PEO (144.2 mg). Moreover, in vivo investigation of skin wound repair, CAPEO could promote epidermal regeneration and collagen deposition, thereby accelerating wound healing. These findings disclose that CAPEO holds great potential for hemostasis and wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]