A rapidly resorbable hemostatic biomaterial based on dihydroxyacetone

We have developed a rapid acting, rapidly resorbable, non‐toxic, topical hemostatic agent comprised of a PEGylated, polymerized sequence of dihydroxyacetone (MPEG‐pDHA) that is highly effective in vivo. Twenty‐eight Sprague‐Dawley rats underwent left lateral hepatectomy. To the cut edge of the liver, rats received MPEG‐pDHA (50 mg), normal saline (0.5 mL), or Instat™ (50 mg), a commercially available hemostatic compound. Bleeding time and total blood loss were quantified. Coagulation studies and scanning electron microscopy were performed on phlebotomized blood combined with MPEG‐pDHA. Rats treated with MPEG‐pDHA had significantly decreased bleeding time (97 s) and total blood loss (1.35 g) compared to normal saline (464 s and 3.83 g, p < 0.05 for each), and a significantly shorter bleeding time compared to Instat (165 s, p < 0.05). Histology confirmed that all MPEG‐pDHA was metabolized within 3 weeks. The addition of MPEG‐pDHA to whole blood did not significantly affect prothrombin time (12.0 s vs. 13.2 s, p = 0.130), partial thromboplastin time (27.0 s vs. 21.8 s, p = 0.118), or thrombin clotting time. MPEG‐pDHA is an effective and rapidly resorbable hemostatic agent that may find broad hemostatic application in a wide range of surgical procedures. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010