Chitosan-based aerogel particles as highly effectivelocal hemostatic agents. Production process and in vivo evaluations

Abstract

Chitosan aerogels with potential applications as effective local hemostatic agents wereprepared using supercritical carbon dioxide drying to preserve the chitosan network structurefeaturing high internal surfaces and porosities of up to 300 m2/g and 98%, respectively. For thefirst time, hemostatic efficacy of chitosan-based aerogel particles was studiedin vivoon a modelof damage of a large vessel in the deep wound. Pigs were used as test animals. It was shown thatprimary hemostasis was achieved, there were no signs of rebleeding and aerogel particles were tightlyfixed to the walls of the wound canal. A dense clot was formed inside the wound (at the femoralartery), which indicates stable hemostasis. This study demonstrated that chitosan-based aerogelparticles have a high sorption capacity and are highly effective as local hemostatic agents which canbe used to stop massive bleeding.