Experimental Assessment of Hemostatic Agents: Comparison with New Developed Chitosan-Based Material

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Many hemostatic agents and dressings have been tested with variable degree of success. Chitosan has a positive charge, it attracts red blood cells, which have a negative charge. Our goal is to test the efficacy of new developed chitosan-based hemostatic materials in providing durable hemostasis in a high-flow arterial wound model. METHODS: We compared each group with SD rats motality tests and in vitro blood compatibility test by blood clotting index (BCI). We devided the SD rats into 6 groups (N =15) by type of hemostatic agents. A: 100% nonwoven chitosan (degree of the deacetylation: 90%). B: 50% N-acetylation on nonwoven of chitosan gel (degree of the deacetylation: 50%). C: 60% N-acetylation on nonwoven of chitosan ge (degree of the deacetylation: 40%)l. D: Cutanplast(R). E: HemCon(R) F: Gauze. In vivo test, a proximal arterial injury was created in unilateral femoral arteries of 90 anesthetized SD rats. Each materials was made same size and thickness then applied to the injury site for 3 minutes. In vitro test, we compared each group with BCI in human blood. RESULTS: In vivo test, group A showed lower motality rate of 46% than any other groups, Group B and C showed lower motality rate of 60% than group D and E's motality rate of 66%. In vitro test, BCI of group A (30.6 +/- 1.2) and B (29.3 +/- 1.0) were showed nearly about group D (29.1 +/- 1.8) and E (27.4 +/- 1.6). Group C (37.1 +/- 2.0) showed higher BCI than group A and B, it means group C decreased blood clotting. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study suggests a newly developed chitosan-based hemostatic materials induced durable hemostasis and increased blood clotting, and are considered as effective biologic hemostatic agents.