Gum tragacanth-based hemostatic sponge for enhanced hemostasis in dental surgery

Regulating hemorrhage is crucial during dental procedures, particularly surgical interventions where substantial blood loss may occur. Hemostatic sponges are effective instruments for controlling hemorrhage, facilitating hemostasis, preparing the surgical area, and enhancing the healing of injuries. This work aimed to present a novel hemostatic sponge created by integrating antihemorrhagic chemicals with the natural polysaccharide tragacanth. Gum tragacanth (GT) (derived from the species Astragalus gossypinus) was solubilized in water and combined with nanoclay (NC) and tranexamic acid (TXA) at varying doses. Subsequently, they were freeze-dried in cubic silicone molds. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that the incorporation of TXA and NC significantly increased the porosity of the sponges. No evidence of chemical bonding was present in our converted infrared spectra. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and whole blood coagulation index showed improvement with the administration of hemostatics, with TXA demonstrating a more pronounced impact. The cytotoxicity assay of the hemostatic GT exhibited no notable difference from the control sample. The hemostatic GT has demonstrated significant potential for medical applications, particularly in dentistry, and applies to procedures such as endodontics and prosthesis placement.