Development of a pressure hemostatic dressing with the coagulation properties of sodium alginate as a base material

This study aimed to develop a novel hemostatic dressing capable of exerting pressure-assisted hemostasis, promoting platelet aggregation, and enhancing the absorption of blood and tissue exudates. The Alginate/calcium chloride (Alg/CaCl₂) dressing was fabricated by crosslinking sodium alginate with calcium chloride, resulting in the formation of a stable gel network, which was subsequently freeze-dried to obtain a porous structure. In vitro evaluations were performed using L929 mouse fibroblasts to assess cytotoxicity, platelet aggregation, and platelet activation. The biosafety of the dressing was further examined using a rabbit skin irritation model following both topical application and subcutaneous injection. In addition, the pressure-assisted hemostatic effect of the dressing was evaluated using a customized compression device incorporating the Alg/CaCl₂ dressing.The results demonstrated that the Alg/CaCl₂ dressing promoted platelet aggregation and activation while exhibiting minimal cytotoxicity at most tested concentrations, indicating favorable biocompatibility. The dressing possessed a highly porous structure and excellent fluid absorption capacity. Furthermore, the sustained release of physiologically active calcium ions may facilitate platelet activation and fibrin formation, thereby accelerating the hemostatic process. In vivo assessments revealed no significant skin irritation or adverse tissue reactions following either topical application or subcutaneous injection, supporting its safety for biomedical applications. Moreover, compression testing in the animal model demonstrated that the Alg/CaCl₂ dressing generated greater compressive force than commercially available hemostatic products, contributing to enhanced pressure-assisted hemostasis.