Shape Memory Polymer Foams for Hemorrhage Control in Traumatic Wounds - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the primary cause of trauma-related death, and approximately half of hemorrhage deaths occur before the patient reaches the hospital. Current techniques for hemorrhage control are insufficient for a large number of wounds and do not adequately address non-compressible hemorrhages. Thus, there is a critical need for improved hemostatic dressing materials that are inexpensive, easy to apply, effective, and safe to use over prolonged time frames. In the absence of such treatment options, tragic deaths from uncontrolled bleeding will continue. The long-term goal of the proposed work is to provide an accessible option for hemorrhage control that can be used with minimal training in remote situations. The overall objectives in this application are to characterize efficacy of a promising biomaterial platform, shape memory polymer (SMP) foams, in clinically-relevant hemorrhage models and to develop easy-to-use storage and delivery devices. In preliminary work in a porcine grade V liver injury, SMP foam treatment provided faster hemostasis, reduced total blood loss, and improved survival relative to treatment with clinical controls. The rationale for the proposed work is that future clinical translation efforts will be enabled by an improved understanding of how foam properties affect hemorrhage control and expanded pre-clinical characterization of this promising platform. To achieve these objectives, the following specific aims will be pursued: Specific Aim 1: Evaluate effects of SMP foam architectures on hemorrhage control in in vitro wound models, and design storage and delivery devices for non-compressible torso wounds and compressible extremity wounds. Specific Aim 2: Characterize SMP foam efficacy in vivo in a non-compressible grade V liver injury. Specific Aim 3: Characterize SMP foam application, efficacy, removal, and safety in vivo in a compressible femoral artery injury. At the completion of these studies, the expectation is to have clinically-relevant SMP foam- based hemostatic device designs for use in compressible and non-compressible traumatic wounds. The primary positive impact of these studies will be a hemostatic dressing that is easy- to-use and effective in a range of hemorrhagic wound types.
