Chitosan and Emergency Hemostats

Chitosan is a derivative of solid waste from shell fish processing and can be extracted from fungus culture. Chitosan is a water insoluble cationic polymeric material.
Chitosan is converted to glucosamine by the enzyme lysosyme and is therefore excreted from the body naturally. It is not necessary to remove chitosan from the body. The chemical properties of chitosan related to hemostatis possibly include: molecular weight, extent of ionization, counter ion, degree of deacetylation, and degree of crystallinity. Also, its ability to bind with tissues are a function of these parameters. Chitosan can be used in medical and surgical procedures by its direct application to a bleeding surface using the various physical forms such as powder, solution, coating, film, hydrogel, and filament composite.
A recent review detailing the role of new hemostatic agents for battlefield hemorrhage control describes the interest in and necessary specifications for such materials. As a consequence, the Defense Department authorized the development and use of three deployable and FDA approved hemostatic agents: Zeolite "Quikclot" and chitosanic "Hemcon" and the American Red Cross Fibrin Dressing.
Celox
CELOX is a proprietary blend of materials that contains Chitosan. It is both safe for the caregiver and the victim. It can control the most severe arterial bleeding, even when applied within moments of the onset of high pressure, high volume bleeds.

Quikclot
QuikClot® hemostatic agent is a molecular sieve, sifting molecules by size. When QuikClot® comes into contact with blood in and around a wound, it rapidly takes in the smaller water molecules from the blood. The larger platelet and clotting factor molecules remain in the wound in a highly concentrated form. This promotes extremely rapid natural clotting and prevents severe blood loss.

Hemcon
HemCon Bandages work by becoming extremely sticky when in contact with blood. This adhesive-like action seals the wound and controls bleeding. HemCon products are fabricated from chitosan, a naturally occurring, bio-compatible polysaccharide. Because chitosan has a positive charge, it attracts red blood cells, which have a negative charge. The red blood cells create a seal over the wound as they are drawn into the bandage, forming a very tight, coherent seal.

Abbott
A potent hemostatic agent intended for use in the management of bleeding wounds, including vascular access sites to peripheral puncture sites