Rice Starch–Based Sponge for Use as Topical Hemostatic Agent

The topical hemostatic agents in surgery are biomaterials that very important for surgeons to stop bleeding in the complicated areas. Currently available hemostatic agents are often expensive, ineffective or raise safety concerns. Synthetic rice starch-based sponge was an inexpensive and promising alternative. In this study, we synthesized and characterized a new hemostatic agent from rice starch and investigated their use as a hemostatic material. The rice starch-based sponge having interconnected pore were synthesized via blending of the rice starch and additive of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and glycerol in hot water, freezing and drying by vacuum sublimation with enlarged porosity and rapid swelling behavior. Characteristics of the final products were then investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS). In vivo studies using 4 rabbits with liver injury showed rice starch-based sponge blood aggregate formation as well as bulk blood coagulation inhibition. The biocompatibility tests showed that this sponge is safe and effective after follow-up for at least 6 months of animal and clinical trial.