Non-Covalent Cross-Linking Hydrogel: A New Method for Visceral Hemostasis

The study presents a novel non-covalent cross-linking hydrogel composed of collagen and tannic acid for effective visceral hemostasis, particularly in liver and heart applications. In rat models, the hydrogel significantly reduced blood loss and hemostasis time compared to commercial alternatives, demonstrating strong adhesion, mechanical strength, and procoagulant properties. It showed excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and did not induce adverse immune responses, with complete degradation within 21 days. Despite its promising results, the study notes the limitation of not using human blood in ex vivo experiments, suggesting future research with larger animals to validate its potential for human clinical applications.