An Injectable Hydrogel With Solvent Exchange Mechanism for Noncompressible Wound Hemostasis

ABSTRACT Hemostasis of noncompressible wounds represents a significant challenge in surgical medicine and trauma care. Unlike compressible wounds, noncompressible wounds pose considerable difficulties in applying effective external pressure, identifying and managing bleeding sites, and are characterized by a high risk of hemorrhage and complex wound morphology. Currently available hemostatic materials possess certain hemostatic capabilities but are often limiting, including inadequate mechanical strength, suboptimal hemostatic efficacy, and lack of adaptability to complex wound geometries. These limitations prevent them from fully addressing the clinical needs of noncompressible wound management. We developed an injectable hydrogel with high hemostatic efficiency, excellent mechanical properties, and the ability to adapt to complex wound morphologies. The hydrogel was synthesized using the cationic monomer 3‐(methacryloylamino)propyltrimethylammonium chloride and acrylamide to form a PMPTC‐AAM hydrogel (PMA). PMA microgel particles with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the solvent were injected into the wound, where solvent exchange occurred to form the gel. In vivo experimental results demonstrated that PMA could achieve rapid hemostasis for penetrating noncompressible wounds within 30 s, effectively accommodating complex wound morphologies. In conclusion, the injectable hydrogel suspension formed by mixing PMA with PEG undergoes solvent exchange to reorganize into a gel, showing significant potential for managing irregularly shaped, noncompressible wounds.