Polymeric Materials for Hemostatic Wound Healing

Abstract

Hemorrhage is one of the greatest threats to life on the battlefield, accounting for 50% of total deaths. Nearly 86% of combat deaths occur within the first 30 min after wounding. While external wound injuries can be treated mostly using visual inspection, abdominal or internal hemorrhages are more challenging to treat with regular hemostatic dressings because of deep wounds and points of injury that cannot be located properly. The need to treat trauma wounds from limbs, abdomen, liver, stomach, colon, spleen, arterial, venous, and/or parenchymal hemorrhage accompanied by severe bleeding requires an immediate solution that the first responders can apply to reduce rapid exsanguinations from external wounds, including in military operations. This necessitates the development of a unique, easy-to-use, FDA-approved hemostatic treatment that can deliver the agent in less than 30 s and stop bleeding within the first 1 to 2 min at the point of injury without application of manual pressure on the wounded area.

Recent advances in biopolymer-based hemostatic materials

“…In this section, we summarize the significance of hemostatic pads or sheets for hemorrhage control in different ways. Generally, hemostatic sheets are prepared with different types of natural or synthetic polymers [ 210 ]. They can be engineered in various forms, such as film sheets, nanofiber sheets and layer-by-layer approaches [ 211–213 ].…”

Biomaterials as Haemostatic Agents in Cardiovascular Surgery: Review of Current Situation and Future Trends

“…Active and flowable haemostatic products have been shown to produce higher haemostatic success rates compared with mechanical agents. Fibrin sealants have also shown efficacy compared with conventional haemostasis and other mechanical agents [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Design of biopolymer-based hemostatic material: Starting from molecular structures and forms

“…After the contact with the blood, calcium ions in calcium alginate are released in exchange for Na ​ + ​ions. The released Ca 2+ ions could promote a prothrombin activation cascade, which in turn can lead to rapid hemostasis [ 75 ]. Based on the ion-exchange mechanism, Wu et al.…”