A collaborative team of researchers from institutions in China have developed a hydrogel that can stop bleeding from a punctured artery.
The paper describes the design process for the hydrogel and how it worked when tested on animals.
Uncontrolled bleeding can be a life or death situation when it comes to the operating room. In most cases, uncontrolled bleeding usually means there’s been damage to a major artery or organ. No matter the case, immediate action must be taken.
In the past, researchers have tried to create a glue that can hold together the wound, but thus far these “pastes” have either been created from toxic materials or weren’t strong enough to hold together high liquid pressure.
The new hydrogel the researchers created is made from water, gelatin, and a mix of proteins and other chemicals. It was designed to resemble the structure of human connective tissues. When UV light shines on the gel, it thickens and then solidifies within 20 to 30 seconds. This adheres the wound and prevents blood from flowing out. The researchers say the hydrogel could stand up to 290-mmHG blood pressure.
They tested their hydrogel by piercing the carotid artery of a test pig and used their gel to seal up the wound. The hydrogel closed up the wound and allowed the wound to heal. Two weeks later there was little to no necrosis or inflammation. Additionally, the hydrogel decomposed in the body without causing it any harm.
In the future, the researchers will have to administer more testing to ensure the safety of the gel before trying it on a human.
