Spray-Dried Chitosan and Alginate Microparticles for Application in Hemorrhage Control

Abstract

Significant blood loss due to injury, trauma, or high blood pressure is termed as hemorrhage which is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The efficient way to overcome the condition is using a material which can quickly clot the blood. Hemostatic agents like polysaccharides, bone wax, microfibrillar collagen, gelatin foams, etc. are available in the market; however, their clotting efficiency is low. Chitosan is a well-known and widely used component of many hemostatic agents available commercially. An interdisciplinary approach that utilizes nanotechnology and the materialistic properties of chitosan and alginate has shown tremendous potential as an efficient hemostatic agent. Our work on the polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) of chitosan and alginate has shown that it can clot the blood at least 6 times faster than the commercially available Celox. Both chitosan and alginate have been shown to exhibit healing and antibacterial properties. Chitosan mainly causes hemostasis by activating the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade. However, there are a few disadvantages of chitosan such as low strength that can be taken care of by the application of alginate with it. Microparticles of chitosan and alginate were prepared using the spray-drying technique and mixed in different ratios. When exposed to blood or aqueous condition, they interacted to form a PEC. These particles easily dissolve in 154blood, and large surface area to volume ratio helps to adhere more red blood cells to them which ultimately helps the blood to clot faster. Our experiments also suggest that a high proportion of chitosan helps to adhere more platelets to them. About 83% and 70% platelet adhesion was observed for 1:1.5 and 2:1 Alginate-Chitosan samples, respectively. The swelling ratio increased tremendously for the first 5 min after keeping it in phosphate buffer saline. Activated partial thromboplastin time and the prothrombin time was found to be 34 and 14 s for 2:1 alginate–chitosan sample, whereas for Celox time was about 155 and 28 s. Detailed studies suggest that PECs of chitosan and alginate microbeads have potential application in hemorrhage control.