ChitO2-Clot: A Novel Hemostatic and Oxygen Releasing Biomaterial for Traumatic Injuries

ChitO₂-Clot is a novel hemostatic wound dressing. ChitO₂-Clot will help facilitate coagulation/clot formation as well as providing oxygen to the wound, all while being cost effective and competitive with current hemostatic dressings. The product is composed of a micro/nano sized fibrous mat made of chitosan that is doped with Perfluorocarbons (oxygen carrier). The user would pack a hemorrhaging wound with ChitO₂-Clot in order to stop the bleeding. The chitosan in ChitO₂-Clot rapidly absorbs the blood in the wound bed and forms a gelatinous clot that fills the empty void of the wound. The gelatinous clot filling this void in the tissue applies pressure to the damaged vasculature, which prevents further bleeding. Chitosan also activates the clot clotting cascade and causes the agglutination of red blood cells, accelerates coagulation in vivo by influencing the activation of platelets. The Perfluorocarbons (oxygen career) release oxygen into the wound bed to help facilitate the wound healing process. Over time, the chitosan in ChitO₂-Clot will be reabsorbed by the body and converted into sugar, while the Perfluorocarbon (PFC) is expelled via gas exchange in the lungs.