A review on biopolymers for the application of new hemostatic materials in medicine

Bleeding is one of the main causes of death in natural disasters as well as due to accidents and war injuries. The formation of stable blood clots or hemostasis is necessary to prevent blood loss and death from excessive bleeding. Although there is a process of self-coagulation in the body, but in severe injuries, this system cannot control the bleeding alone without the help of clotting agents. Traditional methods such as the use of sterile gauze and applying pressure in the bleeding area have been widely used to prevent bleeding. However, these methods are not very effective. Therefore, finding substances that can quickly prevent bleeding has been the subject of many studies. Meanwhile, various organic and inorganic materials have been taken into consideration. Some polymers have shown very promising results due to compatibility with body tissues as well as the ability to control and manipulate properties. Considering the importance of these polymers, in this research, an overview of these polymers is carried out and the mechanism of action of these polymers in controlling bleeding and blood coagulation will be investigated. Also, the latest strategies in design and activities on this subject will be discussed. Three mechanisms of blood thickening, activation of the coagulation cascade and creation of a physical barrier are the main factors of the performance of these substances. Starch polysaccharides, alginate and oxidized cellulose can be mentioned among the most famous biopolymers for hemostatic application. Also, collagen, gelatin, fibrin, thrombin and keratin poly peptides are used as other biopolymer sources in bleeding control. In the following, the strategies used in improving the properties of hemostatic polymer materials are reviewed. The research directions in this topic, which are of interest to researchers, will be discussed.