Overview: A novel approach to stopping surgical bleeding
Uncontrolled hemorrhage during surgery remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Internal organ injuries, such as those to the liver or spleen, pose particular challenges because bleeding can be difficult to control and may require invasive interventions. Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) have developed a pioneering composite bioabsorbable hemostatic sponge designed to rapidly halt bleeding inside the body while supporting safe healing.
Traditional hemostatic agents often face two critical limitations: weak adhesion to bleeding tissue and slow or incomplete biodegradation, which can lead to complications or the need for additional surgeries. The POSTECH team addressed these issues by integrating mussel adhesive protein with decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) to create a composite sponge that combines strong tissue adhesion with biocompatible biodegradability.
How the composite sponge works
When applied to a bleeding site, the sponge rapidly absorbs blood, adhering firmly to the tissue surface. This adhesion helps stabilize the wound and accelerates the stopping of the bleed. The material then biodegrades naturally in the body, eliminating the need for removal and reducing the risk of foreign-body reactions. In parallel, the exposed dECM component promotes tissue recovery by supporting cellular processes involved in healing.
Crucially, the dECM in the sponge activates the body’s intrinsic coagulation pathways, speeding up clot formation and contributing to faster hemostasis. The result is a material that not only controls bleeding quickly but also fosters a safer and more efficient recovery process for patients undergoing surgery.
Performance in challenging scenarios
The researchers tested the sponge in an anticoagulated liver injury model, using warfarin-treated tissue to simulate a high-risk bleeding scenario. The composite sponge demonstrated strong adhesion to the injured surface and achieved notable hemostatic efficacy, reducing bleeding time and blood loss compared with conventional materials. Additionally, there was less inflammation and tissue damage observed, and wound stabilization was enhanced during the early healing phase.
These results suggest that the sponge could be especially valuable in surgeries where patients have bleeding disorders or are on anticoagulant therapy, addressing a major clinical need for rapid, reliable intraoperative hemostasis.
Clinical implications and future prospects
The composite sponge offers several potential advantages over existing hemostatic agents: improved tissue adhesion, biocompatible degradation without the need for surgical removal, and promotion of tissue recovery through dECM signaling. By helping to control internal organ bleeding more effectively, the sponge could reduce the frequency of re-operations, shorten hospital stays, and support faster patient recovery.
While the current study demonstrates promising results in preclinical models, further work remains to validate safety and effectiveness in broader clinical settings. The researchers emphasize that translating this technology to human patients will require comprehensive clinical trials and regulatory review.
About the researchers and support
The study was led by Professor Hyung Joon Cha (Department of Chemical Engineering) and Professor Jinah Jang (Department of Mechanical Engineering and Convergence IT Engineering) at POSTECH, with graduate student Hyegyo Cha contributing to the chemical engineering aspects. The findings were published in Advanced Healthcare Materials. Funding came from the National Research Foundation of Korea (Ministry of Science and ICT) and the Alchemist Project (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy), underscoring national support for innovations in biomaterials and surgical care.
Conclusion
The POSTECH composite sponge represents a meaningful advance in intraoperative hemostasis, marrying rapid blood control with safe, guided tissue healing. If validated in clinical trials, this technology could redefine how surgeons manage severe internal bleeding, ultimately improving outcomes for patients facing high-risk surgeries.
