Injectable Ca/ε-aminocaproic acid/dextran phosphate hydrogel for effective acute bleeding control

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Hemostasis Research
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Controlling bleeding is critical in surgery and trauma care.
• Development of novel hemostatic agents is essential for improved patient outcomes.
• Existing agents may have limitations requiring new solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize calcium/ε-aminocaproic acid/dextran phosphate composite hydrogels.
• To evaluate the physicochemical properties and hemostatic potential of these novel hydrogels.
• To assess their efficacy in controlling bleeding both in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of composite hydrogels via dextran phosphorylation.
• Evaluation of hydrogel properties: rheology, swelling, morphology, and ε-aminocaproic acid sorption.
• In vitro assessment of ε-aminocaproic acid release, blood clotting time, clotting index, and hemolysis.
• In vivo evaluation using a rat liver hemorrhage model to measure bleeding time and blood loss.

Main Results:

• The hydrogels exhibited controlled release of ε-aminocaproic acid with a maximum sorption capacity of 80%.
• In vitro studies showed reduced blood clotting time, enhanced clotting index, and minimal hemolysis.
• In vivo tests demonstrated a significant decrease in bleeding time and average blood loss in a rat liver model.
• The composite hydrogels outperformed control experiments in hemostatic efficacy.

Conclusions:

• The developed Ca/ε-aminocaproic acid/dextran phosphate hydrogels show significant hemostatic potential.
• These hydrogels are effective in controlling bleeding, offering a promising alternative for medical applications.
• Further research and development could lead to their clinical use as advanced hemostatic agents.