🩸 Organic Spray Stops Even Severe Bleeding in Seconds

Scientists from KAIST (South Korea) have developed a powder spray—AGCL—that turns into a dense gel within one second upon contact with blood, stopping bleeding and sealing even deep and irregular wounds.

The mechanism is based on a rapid reaction with blood components. Two parts of the formula—alginate (from brown seaweed) and gellan gum (produced by bacterial fermentation)—almost instantly transform from powder to gel when they come into contact with blood.

The third component, chitosan (made from the shells of crustaceans and insects, as well as from fungal cell walls), has a positive charge. It attracts negatively charged red blood cells and platelets, helping them stick together and form a "plug" to stop the bleeding.

The material is non-toxic and has antibacterial properties. After application, the gel can retain a volume of blood seven times its own weight, which is important in cases of severe blood loss.

@hiaimediaen