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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

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TAPE: A Biodegradable Hemostatic Glue Inspired by a Ubiquitous Compound in Plants for Surgical Application
Published on: June 8, 2016
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Plant-Based Shape Memory Cryogel for Hemorrhage Control
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 16, 2024
Summary
Biosafe pollen cryogels offer a sustainable solution for treating deep wounds. These novel hemostats are derived from natural pollen, requiring no harmful crosslinkers and demonstrating rapid blood-clotting capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Materials Science
- Medical Device Development
Background:
- Growing demand for sustainable manufacturing in healthcare.
- Challenges in sourcing renewable materials and efficient fabrication for medical applications.
- Need for advanced hemostatic agents for deep, noncompressible wounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer biosafe pollen cryogels as effective hemostats.
- To develop a sustainable and low-energy fabrication method for cryogels.
- To evaluate the hemostatic performance and applicability of pollen cryogels for deep wound treatment.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of macroporous cryogels using non-allergenic plant pollen.
- Characterization of cryogel properties, including shape-memory effect and structural features.
- In vivo testing of hemostatic efficacy in a mouse liver penetration model.
Main Results:
- Pollen cryogels were successfully synthesized using a straightforward, low-energy method.
- The cryogels exhibited rapid water/blood-triggered shape-memory properties (within 2 seconds).
- Effective hemostasis was demonstrated in a preclinical model, with easy removal post-usage.
Conclusions:
- Self-crosslinking pollen cryogels provide a sustainable and effective hemostatic material.
- The unique properties of pollen enable the creation of advanced biomaterials for medical use.
- This work presents a novel framework for clinical applications in treating deep noncompressible wounds.
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Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.
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