Development of Haemostatic Hydrogel Sheets from Chitosan Extracted from Shrimp Shells

Abstract: Introduction. Hemostasis is essential in first aid and emergency medical care; however, physiological clotting mechanisms are often insufficient for rapid bleeding control in acute or severe injuries. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from shrimp shell chitin, has demonstrated effective hemostatic properties and represents a low-cost and environmentally sustainable biomaterial. This study aimed to compare the hemostatic efficiency of chitosan–citric acid solutions at different ratios and to develop a chitosan-based hydrogel sheet for potential bleeding-control applications. Methods. Chitosan was extracted from shrimp shells through demineralization and deacetylation processes. Chitosan solutions were prepared using citric acid at ratios of 1:12, 1:6, and 1:4. Hemostatic efficiency was evaluated in vitro using fresh porcine blood by observing clot formation and measuring the weight of blood clot residue after 10 minutes. Distilled water and citric acid solution served as control groups. Differences among experimental groups were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. The formulation exhibiting the highest hemostatic performance was subsequently fabricated into a hydrogel sheet using polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, glycerin, and microwave irradiation. Results. Significant differences in blood clot residue weight were observed among the experimental groups (p = 0.009). The chitosan–citric acid ratio of 1:12 exhibited the highest mean blood clot weight, indicating superior hemostatic performance compared with other formulations and controls. The selected formulation was successfully fabricated into a stable hydrogel sheet with satisfactory physical properties and handling characteristics. Conclusion. The hemostatic efficiency of chitosan–citric acid systems is strongly dependent on formulation ratio, with the 1:12 ratio providing optimal performance in vitro. The developed chitosan-based hydrogel sheet demonstrates potential as an effective, safe, and environmentally sustainable hemostatic material. Further in vivo and clinical studies are warranted. Keywords: Chitosan; Hemostasis; Hydrogel; Shrimp shells; Biomaterials. Title: Development of Haemostatic Hydrogel Sheets from Chitosan Extracted from Shrimp Shells Author: Phonrawin Chirdchim, Boonyawee Sujeerakulkrai, Piengpor Kanghae International Journal of Life Sciences Research ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online) Vol. 14, Issue 1, January 2026 - March 2026 Page No: 1-6 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 03-February-2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18467924 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/development-of-haemostatic-hydrogel-sheets-from-chitosan-extracted-from-shrimp-shells