A study published in the journal Biomaterials, has shown that modified chitosan gel coagulates blood and stops bleeding in external and internal wounds.

By attaching benzene-n-octadecyl to chitosan, scientists from the University of Maryland, USA, have discovered that the outcome, hm-chitosan, binds to blood and rapidly stops excessive bleeding. A 90% reduction in bleeding was found in femoral vein transactions in rats.  

Both small and large wounds were assessed following application of the gel, which was found to coagulate blood regardless of the wound size. The gel was also tested on human blood samples and showed to instantly clot blood. 

The research team at the University of Maryland 'have developed a novel and effective way to control bleeding using biopolymers that gently induce self-assembly of blood cells', said Christian Kastrup, biochemistry professor at the University of British Columbia. 'Their cell-cross-linking strategy has important advances over previously developed hemostatic agents in that it is inexpensive and controllably reversible.'

The properties of this gel show promise for military and accidental traumas, as it is low cost and its effects are reversible. Studies and clinical trials will continue in the near future.

To see a video of the gel in action called, A self-assembling hydrophobically modified chitosan capable of reversible hemostatic action, click here.

Click on the link to read the article, A self-assembling hydrophobically modified chitosan capable of reversible hemostatic action, in Biomaterials.

Image: Red blood cell. Credit:  Andrew Mason on Flickr.