Photo courtesy of USDA
Bioengineers have developed an injectable material that may provide a better way to stop bleeding in injured patients, even those taking anticoagulants and individuals with coagulopathy.
The so-called shear-thinning biomaterial (STB) is composed of gelatin and silicate nanoplatelet hydrogel.
It can be injected through a catheter or needle to occlude blood vessels.
The STB demonstrated efficacy in vitro and in experiments with mice and pigs.
“This work is an example of how bioengineering can help address the challenges that clinicians and patients face,” said Ali Khademhosseini, PhD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
“Our work thus far has been in the lab, but we are on a translational path to bring this new biomaterial for embolization to the clinic to improve patient care.”
Dr Khademhosseini and his colleagues described their work with STB in Science Translational Medicine.
The researchers noted that trauma or injury often leads to excessive bleeding that can result in death.
Embolic materials, such as metallic coils or liquid embolic agents, are commonly used to block injured blood vessels and stem bleeding, but these materials can cause complications such as coil migration or breakthrough bleeding.
Because these materials rely on intrinsic thrombosis, they are often ineffective in patients with severe bleeding disorders or those on anticoagulation therapy.
In search of a safer and more effective alternative, Dr Khademhosseini and his colleagues developed their STB.
The STB can be flowed into a blood vessel using a catheter, but the material is able to maintain its shape once inside the vessel, obstructing the vessel without relying on the formation of a blood clot.
In vitro, the STB performed just as well as metallic coils and was able to withstand high pressures without fragmenting or being dislodged in explant vessels.
The STB was even effective in stemming anticoagulated blood flow in vitro, suggesting that it could potentially be used in patients with bleeding disorders or those on anticoagulants.
The STB successfully blocked arteries and veins in mice and pigs, forming an impenetrable cast of the vessels that remained in place for up to 24 days.
The researchers said some of the beneficial properties of the STB include its ability to withstand pressure within the blood vessel, remain at the site of injection, and naturally degrade over time.
In addition, the STB attracted cells to migrate and deposit themselves at the site of the STB, helping to block the vessel.
The researchers noted that the individual component materials that make up the STB have been previously used in humans, which may mean a quicker path to regulatory approval.
