Rapid and effective control of non-compressible massive hemorrhage poses a great challenge in first-aid and clinical settings. Herein, a biopolymer-based powder is developed for the control of non-compressible hemorrhage. The powder is designed to facilitate rapid hemostasis by its excellent hydrophilicity, great specific surface area, and adaptability to the shape of wound, enabling it to rapidly absorb fluid from the wound. Specifically, the powder can undergo sequential cross-linking based on "click" chemistry and Schiff base reaction upon contact with the blood, leading to rapid self-gelling. It also exhibits robust tissue adhesion through covalent/non-covalent interactions with the tissues (adhesive strength: 89.57 ± 6.62 KPa, which is 3.75 times that of fibrin glue). Collectively, this material leverages the fortes of powder and hydrogel. Experiments with animal models for severe bleeding have shown that it can reduce the blood loss by 48.9%. Studies on the hemostatic mechanism also revealed that, apart from its physical sealing effect, the powder can enhance blood cell adhesion, capture fibrinogen, and synergistically induce the formation of fibrin networks. Taken together, this hemostatic powder has the advantages for convenient preparation, sprayable use, and reliable hemostatic effect, conferring it with a great potential for the control of non-compressible hemorrhage.
Keywords: hemostatic powder; non-compressible hemorrhage; pro-coagulant bioactivity; self-gelling; wet adhesion.
© 2023 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.