An investigation on hemostatic suitability of macro and nano particles of sodium alginate, calcium alginate and chitosan for blood clotting bandages.

Control of Hemorrhage not only important for clinical success post-surgical treatment and also for prehospital trauma injuries. Numerous biomaterials have been investigated to control surgical and traumatic bleeding. Most of the traumatic deaths are due to uncontrollable blood flow. The various natural polymers such as cellulose, gelatin, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, polypeptides and sugar based polymers are used for medical applications. The wound dressing requires biocompatibility, non-toxicity, liquid absorbency, vaporization and transfer, flexibility and adequate strength which are satisfied to the maximum extent by these bio-polymers. Due to the inherent properties viz. absorbing capacity of wound exudates and blood solutes, antibacterial efficacy and cell compatibility of chitosan and alginates, these are used as part of wound dressing materials. Hence biopolymeric macro and nano particles of sodium alginate, calcium alginate and chitosan polymers are studied to improve haemostatic function of blood. This study shows that chitosan nano particles have good hemostatic property through blood clotting time analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]