Revolutionary polymer gel puts immediate stop to bleeding

And a new gel being developed in New York could save lives, because it can stop the flow of profuse bleeding within seconds, as per dailymail.co.uk. Made from plant polymers, VetiGel works with the body’s natural healing mechanisms to clot blood on contact. This novel development is the brainchild of Joe Landolina, a bio-molecular chemical engineer and former student of the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, who set up a Brooklyn-based company called Suneris. The gel technology uses natural polymers to cooperate with the body’s native cellular clotting signals and accelerate hemostasis. This approach stops bleeding more quickly than any other method currently available in wound care. When this gel technology is used, three aspects of hemostasis are enhanced to quickly and effectively stop bleeding. Immediately after application, the gel stimulates the clotting process by physically holding pressure in the damaged blood vessel. The gel then rapidly activates the accumulation of platelets, which bind to the site of the injury to create a platelet mesh. The gel completes hemostasis by accelerating the binding of the clotting protein, fibrin, to the platelet mesh, resulting in blood coagulation and a stable clot. The gel technology not only stops bleeding promptly, but it also creates an exceptionally strong clot that is maintained over time. The rapid formation of a sturdy, long-lasting clot reduces the need for a second application of the gel and, consequently, less blood loss. Moreover, the potential need for follow-up surgeries is alleviated due to better control of excessive bleeding with our gel technology. The gel technology is durable and bioresorbable. After the gel has controlled bleeding at the site of injury, the accompanying solidifying agent is applied to solidify the gel and form a long-lasting protective barrier over the wound. Because the plant-based gel technology is biocompatible, it facilitates options and flexibility in follow-up care. Once the gel is secured as a single mass by the solidifying agent, it can either be removed or left in place to safely resorb. The Suneris gel technology is designed to accelerate hemostasis through physiomechanical methods. Because the gel is naturally adhesive, it is able to remain at the site of the injury without manual pressure, allowing the components of the gel to interact with damaged cells to initiate hemostasis. Suneris has engineered a polymerizing agent to enhance the durability of the gel technology. After applying the gel and ensuring that hemostasis is achieved, the polymerizing agent is sprayed onto the gel. This causes rapid restructuring of components in the gel resulting in a solid mass. Our gel is able to stop bleeding without any additional components, but solidifying the gel improves the durability of the clot, protects the wound from outside elements and allows for easy removal, if needed.