A strongly adhesive hemostatic hydrogel for the repair of arterial and heart bleeds

TLDR

Uncontrollable bleeding during surgery and trauma is a major problem, and current hemostatic agents fail to control hemorrhage from arterial and cardiac wounds because they adhere poorly to wet, mobile tissues. The study aims to design a photo‑reactive adhesive that mimics extracellular matrix composition to improve hemostasis. A biomacromolecule‑based matrix hydrogel rapidly gels and fixes under UV light, sealing bleeding arteries and cardiac walls. The hydrogel withstands pressures up to 290 mm Hg, stops high‑pressure bleeding from pig carotid and heart wounds, and treated pigs survived, indicating strong clinical potential.

Abstract

Uncontrollable bleeding is a major problem in surgical procedures and after major trauma. Existing hemostatic agents poorly control hemorrhaging from traumatic arterial and cardiac wounds because of their weak adhesion to wet and mobile tissues. Here we design a photo-reactive adhesive that mimics the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition. This biomacromolecule-based matrix hydrogel can undergo rapid gelling and fixation to adhere and seal bleeding arteries and cardiac walls after UV light irradiation. These repairs can withstand up to 290 mm Hg blood pressure, significantly higher than blood pressures in most clinical settings (systolic BP 60-160 mm Hg). Most importantly, the hydrogel can stop high-pressure bleeding from pig carotid arteries with 4~ 5 mm-long incision wounds and from pig hearts with 6 mm diameter cardiac penetration holes. Treated pigs survived after hemostatic treatments with this hydrogel, which is well-tolerated and appears to offer significant clinical advantage as a traumatic wound sealant.