A bioadhesive sponge inspired by mussels and extracellular matrix offers a new way to stop internal bleeding

Uncontrolled bleeding during surgery remains one of the deadliest medical emergencies. Injuries to internal organs such as the liver or spleen are especially dangerous because bleeding is difficult to control and often life-threatening. To tackle this challenge, researchers at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) have developed a composite bioabsorbable hemostatic sponge that can rapidly halt bleeding inside the body.

 

Conventional hemostatic agents often fail to adhere firmly to the bleeding site or remain in the body without degrading, which can cause secondary complications. To address this, the research team combined mussel adhesive protein with decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) to develop a composite hemostatic sponge that offers both strong tissue adhesion and biocompatible biodegradability.

 

When applied to a bleeding site, the sponge quickly absorbs blood and firmly adheres to tissues, enhancing hemostatic performance. Once hemostasis is achieved, the material naturally degrades and is absorbed in the body, while the exposed dECM supports tissue recovery. By activating the body’s intrinsic coagulation pathways, dECM helps accelerate blood clotting and promote wound stabilization.

 

In an anticoagulated liver injury model (warfarin-treated), the sponge adhered strongly to the injured tissue surface and demonstrated highly effective hemostatic performance. As a result, bleeding time was significantly reduced and blood loss markedly decreased. Compared to conventional hemostatic materials, the sponge also induced less inflammation and tissue damage, while promoting enhanced wound stabilization during the early stages of healing.

 

Beyond solving the limitations of poor adhesion and non-degradability in current hemostatic agents, this work demonstrates a new way to safely and effectively manage internal organ bleeding. “This composite sponge can stop bleeding quickly and safely even in severe internal injuries that were previously difficult to control,” said Professor Hyung Joon Cha of POSTECH, who led the study. “By reducing the need for additional surgeries and supporting faster recovery, it has the potential to greatly improve patient care.”

 

This study was led by Professor Hyung Joon Cha (Department of Chemical Engineering, POSTECH) and Professor Jinah Jang (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Convergence IT Engineering, POSTECH), with graduate student Hyegyo Cha (Department of Chemical Engineering, POSTECH). The findings were recently published online in Advanced Healthcare Materials, a leading international journal in the field of biomaterials. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (Ministry of Science and ICT) and the Alchemist Project (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy).

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