Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) Pune has developed a highly porous spongy xerogel hemostatic dressing supplemented with substances that bind to a receptor inside a cell (agonists) like silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) and calcium.
Scientists from the institute studied composite material and found that it increased the blood clotting index by 13-fold in comparison to commercial dressing clotting capacity.
Platelets are an important component of blood and contribute to the blood clotting process.
Several factors like change in platelet shape, secretion of calcium, and activation of receptors on platelet surface play a role in the intricate pathway of blood clotting.
The xerogel hemostatic dressing showed enhanced platelet aggregation due to the development of well-formed pseudopodia in the activated platelets resulting in agglutination which play a major role in the clotting process.
In addition, the composite enhanced calcium release, and its extrusion. xerogels find valuable applications as catalysts, adsorbents, sensors, membranes, and drug delivery systems.
Source: https://dst.gov.in/highly-porous-xerogel-dressing-can-save-lives-clotting-blood-faster
