Hemostasis in One Second With a Spray... Next-Generation Technology Boosts Combatant Survival [Reading Science]

Powder Hemostatic Agent Works Instantly in Combat and Disaster Sites
Demonstrates Potential for Both Military and Civilian Applications

A breakthrough technology capable of drastically reducing excessive bleeding-the leading cause of casualties in war and disaster sites-has been developed by a domestic research team. Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have created a powder-type hemostatic agent that can stop bleeding within about one second simply by being applied to a wound, showcasing a next-generation emergency hemostasis technology that can significantly increase the survival rate of combatants.

Image of the hemostatic agent developed by the research team. Provided by the research team (AI generated)

On December 29, KAIST announced that a joint research team led by Professor Steve Park from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Professor Sangyong Jeon from the Department of Biological Sciences has developed an ultrafast powder hemostatic agent (AGCL powder) that works instantly even in extreme combat environments. Army officers directly participated in this research, greatly enhancing its practical applicability in real combat situations.

Patch-type hemostatic agents, which are widely used in current medical settings, are difficult to apply to deep and irregular wounds due to their flat structure, and are sensitive to temperature and humidity, limiting their use in combat or disaster environments.

Utilizing Blood Ion Reactions... Hydrogel Barrier Forms Within 1 Second

To overcome these limitations, the research team focused on a powder-type hemostatic agent that can be freely applied to deep and complex wounds. In particular, moving beyond the conventional approach of physically absorbing blood, the team introduced a new method that leverages chemical reactions with ions in the blood.

AGCL Powder Development Strategy and Production Overview. Provided by the Research Team

The AGCL powder developed this time rapidly gels when alginate and gellan gum react with cations such as calcium in the blood, instantly sealing the wound, while chitosan binds with blood components to enhance chemical and biological hemostatic effects. As a result, the powder forms a strong hydrogel barrier as soon as it is applied to the wound, blocking bleeding immediately.

Additionally, the internal three-dimensional structure of the powder enables it to absorb more than seven times its own weight (725%) in blood, and it demonstrated adhesion strength exceeding 40 kPa, allowing it to withstand strong manual pressure and providing superior sealing performance compared to commercial hemostatic agents.

In biocompatibility assessments, the powder recorded a hemolysis rate of less than 3%, cell viability above 99%, and antibacterial efficacy of 99.9%. Animal experiments confirmed rapid wound healing and promotion of vascular and collagen regeneration. In surgical experiments involving liver injury, both blood loss and hemostasis time were greatly reduced, and liver function returned to normal levels two weeks after surgery.

Notably, this hemostatic agent maintains its performance for two years even in room temperature and high humidity environments, making it immediately usable in harsh conditions such as military operation zones or disaster sites.

From the top left, Professor Steve Park, Professor Sangyong Jeon; from the bottom left, KAIST President Kwanghyung Lee, Integrated MS-PhD student Youngjoo Son, PhD student Kyusun Park. Provided by KAIST

Although this technology was developed with defense applications in mind, it also has great potential for expansion into civilian areas such as disaster sites, medically underserved regions, and emergency care in developing countries. Its applicability ranges from emergency treatment on the battlefield to hemostasis during internal surgeries, making it a representative example of defense science and technology spinning off into the civilian sector.

Kyusun Park, a KAIST PhD student (Army Major) who participated in the research, stated, "The core of modern warfare is minimizing loss of life," and added, "I started this research with the mission of saving even one more soldier."

This research was recognized for both scientific innovation and defense utility, receiving the 2025 KAIST Q-Day Presidential Award and the 2024 KAIST-KNDU Defense Academic Conference Minister of National Defense Award. The results were published online in the international journal 'Advanced Functional Materials' on October 28 under the title "An Ionic Gelation Powder for Ultrafast Hemostasis and Accelerated Wound Healing."