The neutral self-assembling peptide hydrogel SPG-178 as a topical hemostatic agent

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 21;9(7):e102778. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102778. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Conventional self-assembling peptide hydrogels are effective as topical hemostatic agents. However, there is a possibility to harm living tissues due to their low pH. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the efficacy of SPG-178, a neutral self-assembling peptide hydrogel, as a topical hemostatic agent. First, we measured the bleeding duration of incisions made on rat livers after application of SPG-178 (1.0% w/v), SPG-178 (1.5% w/v), RADA16 (1.0% w/v), and saline (n = 12/group). Second, we observed the bleeding surfaces by transmission electron microscopy immediately after hemostasis. Third, we measured the elastic and viscous responses (G' and G″, respectively) of the hydrogels using a rheometer. Our results showed that bleeding duration was significantly shorter in the SPG-178 group than in the RADA16 group and that there were no significant differences in transmission electron microscopy findings between the groups. The greater the G' value of a hydrogel, the shorter was the bleeding duration. We concluded that SPG-178 is more effective and has several advantages: it is non-biological, transparent, nonadherent, and neutral and can be sterilized by autoclaving.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Hemorrhage / drug therapy*
  • Hemostatics / therapeutic use*
  • Hydrogels / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Peptides
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Hemostatics
  • Hydrogels
  • Peptides

Grants and funding

Financial support for this study was provided by Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) 23792045 provided by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences, and Technology of Japan (to Seiji Komatsu), and Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research 40252233 provided by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences, and Technology of Japan (to Keiji Naruse). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.