AFM: A three-component powder seals wounds in one second

Scientists from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) have developed a powdered agent that, when sprayed onto a wound, turns into a dense hydrogel within one second and instantly stops bleeding. The study was published in Advanced Functional Materials (AFM).

Conventional bandages and sponges work well for small cuts but are often ineffective for deep, irregular, or heavily bleeding wounds. In addition, many of them are sensitive to temperature and humidity, which makes them difficult to use outside a hospital setting.

The new material, named AGCL, is designed as a universal solution for emergency situations—from operating rooms to disaster zones.

The powder is composed of natural, biocompatible components. Alginate and gellan gum rapidly form a gel upon contact with calcium in the blood, physically sealing the wound. Chitosan enhances the effect by binding to blood components and further suppressing bleeding. As a result, a three-dimensional barrier quickly forms on the wound surface and remains stable even under high pressure.

The material can absorb more than seven times its own weight in blood and exhibits adhesion exceeding 40 kPa—comparable to strong manual pressure.

In animal experiments, including models of liver injury, AGCL significantly reduced blood loss and shortened hemostasis time compared with commercial products. Healing also progressed more rapidly, and liver function was fully restored within two weeks.

“We aimed to create a material that works quickly and reliably even in conditions where traditional medical tools cannot be used,” the researchers noted.

According to the team, the powder retains its properties for up to two years at room temperature and high humidity. The authors emphasize that while the technology was designed with extreme conditions in mind, it could eventually see wide use in emergency medicine and field surgery.

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