Injectable Bandages: New Tech Reduces Bleeding Time by 70% | Futurity

Researchers at Texas A&M University are developing injectable bandages that could significantly reduce bleeding time – by as much as 70% – offering a potential breakthrough in trauma care, particularly for deep internal injuries. The innovation centers around using clay-based materials to accelerate blood clotting, a practice with roots stretching back millennia.

The ‘Golden Hour’ and the Challenge of Hemorrhagic Shock

Traumatic injury is a leading cause of death in Texas, exceeding fatalities from stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A substantial proportion of these deaths stem from uncontrolled bleeding. “Severe blood loss can rapidly lead to hemorrhagic shock,” explains Dr. Akhilesh Gaharwar, a biomedical engineering professor at Texas A&M. “Many patients die within one to two hours of injury. This critical period is often referred to as the ‘golden hour.’” The research aims to extend this crucial timeframe, providing clinicians – and potentially, the injured themselves – with more time to intervene.

Traditional methods of controlling bleeding, like direct pressure, are often ineffective for deep internal injuries. This is where the latest injectable bandages come into play. Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation, the team, including Dr. Duncan Maitland and Dr. Taylor Ware, is focused on creating biomedical materials that rapidly stop bleeding and promote clot formation.

Ancient Practice, Modern Science: The Role of Clay

The concept of using clay to staunch bleeding isn’t new. “These clay particles were being used as a hemostat in ancient civilizations in China, Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, Greece, and Rome, likely owing to their absorbency and tissue adherent properties,” says Gaharwar. Ancient healers created pastes from water and clay to apply to wounds, accelerating clotting. The Texas A&M team, however, is focused on a synthetic particle to avoid the risk of infection associated with naturally occurring clays.

The challenge lies in delivering the particles effectively. Simply injecting a powder or paste isn’t viable; blood flow would quickly wash it away, potentially causing dangerous clots elsewhere in the body. To address this, researchers have developed two distinct approaches: an expanding foam and micro-ribbons.

Expanding Foam: Sealing the Wound

The first approach combines the nanosilicate particles with an expanding foam. This foam remains stable within its applicator but reacts to body temperature. Once injected into a wound, it expands to fill the space, sealing severed blood vessels and holding the clotting particles in place. Crucially, the foam forms a single, cohesive structure, minimizing the risk of particles breaking away and causing embolisms – life-threatening blockages in blood vessels. You can find more information about nanosilicate particles and their biomedical applications at Advanced Science.

Micro-Ribbons: A Tangled Network

The second approach utilizes micro-ribbons coated with the coagulation-promoting nanosilicate particles. Like the foam, these ribbons react to body temperature. Each ribbon is constructed from two different materials, one of which contracts when warmed. This causes the ribbon to curl, and as multiple ribbons curl at the injury site, they interlock, forming a foam-like structure. Even if a ribbon detaches, its size prevents it from traveling through the bloodstream, ensuring the clotting particles remain localized. Further details on this approach are available in Advanced Functional Materials.

Reducing Clotting Time: From Minutes to Seconds

The results so far are promising. Under normal circumstances, human blood takes six to seven minutes to clot. The new dressings have demonstrated the ability to reduce this clotting time to as little as one to two minutes. This reduction in clotting time, nearly 70%, could be critical in improving patient outcomes.

A Device for Self-Application?

A key goal of the research is to develop a device that can be easily self-administered, even in the field. “For a self-applied or in-the-field-applied device, you can’t leverage the fancy mechanics and apparatus that you would have in the operating room,” explains Dr. Ware. “There can’t be any special tools. You have to have something that just works and works quickly.” This simplicity is paramount for use in emergency situations where immediate intervention is crucial.

Broader Implications for Trauma Care

The potential impact of this technology extends beyond the battlefield. While initially funded by the Department of Defense, the applications are relevant to civilian trauma care, including accidents, natural disasters, and emergency medical services. The Stop the Bleed campaign, highlighted by Shannon Medical Center, emphasizes the importance of immediate bleeding control measures, and these injectable bandages could become a vital component of such training and emergency kits.

“If these materials get into the first aid kits in an ambulance as well as a soldier’s backpack, they can save a lot of lives,” says Gaharwar. “If you can save 30-40% of hemorrhagic shock victims, that is a big achievement.”

Next Steps: From Lab to Lifesaving Tool

The research team is now focused on refining the formulations and conducting further testing to ensure safety and efficacy. The path to widespread clinical use involves rigorous evaluation, including clinical trials, and regulatory approval. The researchers are also exploring potential manufacturing processes to scale up production and make the bandages readily available. Continued research will also focus on understanding the long-term effects of the nanosilicate particles and optimizing the delivery mechanisms for different types of injuries.