A new biomaterial from researchers at KAIST could change how deep wounds are managed in emergency care. The spray-on powder, called AGCL, is designed to react with blood and form a sticky gel barrier in about one second, helping seal injuries that are difficult to treat with gauze or pressure alone.
How the Powder Works
Developed by a team led by Professor Steve Park and Professor Sangyong Jon, the powder combines alginate, gellan gum and chitosan. When it meets blood, calcium ions trigger a fast gelation process, while chitosan helps the material bind to tissue and adds antibacterial support. The result is a rapid hydrogel that uses the wound's own blood as part of the seal.
In laboratory and animal tests, the material absorbed large amounts of blood and formed an adhesive network almost instantly. The researchers reported that it withstood strong pressure and performed better than a commercial surgical hemostat in several models.
Promising Test Results
The team evaluated AGCL in mouse liver, heart and tail injury models, as well as a surgical liver model. In one test, bleeding that lasted around 350 seconds without treatment was reduced to roughly 13 seconds with AGCL. The powder also lowered blood loss in other injury models and supported faster tissue closure.
Beyond stopping bleeding, the material was linked to signs of wound repair, including new blood vessel growth and collagen formation. Safety results were also encouraging, with lab tests showing strong antibacterial performance and no meaningful toxicity in the animal studies. The powder remained stable for 24 months under normal storage conditions.
Next Step: Human Trials
AGCL is still a preclinical technology and has not yet been approved for medical use. Researchers will need human trials to confirm safety, consistency in manufacturing, and practical use in real clinical settings. Its earliest role may be in military medicine, but the broader potential reaches emergency rooms, surgery, and trauma care.
If further studies confirm these results, this kind of blood-activated material could help make wound care faster, smarter, and more accessible in the future.