
Injectables / Image: Getty
A recent Futurity article noted a new development that could save lives on the battlefield by preventing hemorrhaging. A team of scientists created a bioengineered injectable hydrogel that promotes healing with a controlled release of therapeutics.
The substance is composed of kappa-carrageenan sourced from seaweed. When mixed with clay-based nanoparticles, a Jell-O-like injectable gelatin is yielded, which can be injected directly into a wound. The plasma protein and platelets create a surface on the gel that absorbs blood and triggers blood clotting. The study and results can be seen here.