Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Nanoparticles Functionalized with Carboxylic Acids as Hemostatic Agents

Developing an affordable and effective inorganic hemostatic agent remains a priority for addressing trauma-related mortality, specifically in a low resource constrained environment. This paper describes the synthesis of magnesium aluminum silicate (MAS) via the coprecipitation method. It was surface modified with carboxylic functionalization (MASC) to enhance the interfacial activity with blood components. Structural and compositional analysis using XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), HRSEM (high-resolution scanning electron microscopy), HRTEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy), EDS (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) confirm the formation of an amorphous, layered silicate network with uniform elemental distribution and successful carboxylation. Zeta-potential analysis reveals a moderate negative charge, favoring electrostatic interaction with plasma proteins and platelets. In vitro assays demonstrate that both MAS and MASC significantly reduced blood clotting time, lowered prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thrombin time (aPTT), and promoted erythrocyte and thrombocyte aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. Notably MASC exhibits enhanced procoagulant activity compared with MAS, expressing benefits of carboxylic surface modification. Both MAS and MASC show good hemocompatibility, indicating their suitability for blood-related applications. MAS-based nanomaterials could offer a valuable approach for managing severe bleeding in a clinical and emergency environment.