Scientists have created a hemostatic agent in the form of a heat-sensitive hydrogel. About informs Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation.
There are many types of hemostatic agents commercially available today, including sponges, powders, gauze, and special bandages such as the U.S. military’s QuikClot Combat Gauze. All of them have one drawback – the difficulty of removing after stopping bleeding.
In this regard, American doctors decided to develop a new, easy-to-use remedy. It is in gel form containing heat sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). Laponite, a coagulant, has been added to give the composite hydrogel the ability to liquefy under pressure and recover quickly.
The resulting T-STH material solidifies by the heat of the human body after being inserted into the wound site. At the same time, under the influence of cold salt solution, it turns into liquid again and is easily washed. The gel is non-toxic and has no significant effect on the body, except for the target.
The invention was also tested in a laboratory model simulating human blood flow using real human blood warmed to body temperature. The same results were confirmed in a study in mice, as T-STH reduced blood loss at sites of injury and formed a plug at different blood flow rates.
Source: Gazeta
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