Novel Hemostatic Agents Based on Nanometric Zeolites for Treatment of Traumatic Hemorrhage: Tromboelastographic (TEG) and Antimicrobial Studies

Hemorrhage is one of the main cause of trauma related deaths. Studies of uncontrollable bleeding involving the use of zeolites as hemostatic agents have shown encouraging results for the control of hemorrhage. These studies have revealed when in contact with the blood, zeolites can adsorb the blood water molecules in their pores, therefore concentrating the proteins and cellular elements to speed the clot formation. This study reports the syntheses, characterization and in vitro hemostatic efficacy of the as made nanometric zeolite A (Nano-LTA), Gismondine (GIS), Mordenite (MOR), zeolite A (LTA), Beta zeolite (BEA), Titanium-Silicate (TS-1)), Faujasite (FAU) and their ion exchange derivates with Ag+, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. The main thromboelastographic parameters (TEG) obtained in vitro studies were: R, K (times to reaching a 2mm and 20mm clots respectively), α angle and MA (conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and maximum amplitude respectively). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the antimicrobial action of the hemostatic agents against different strains of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, Candida albicans ATCC 90028 and Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 were also studied. Solid and reproducible experimental results have shown that nanometric zeolites are hemostatically active and capable of efficiently promoting blood-clot formation. They are efficient hemostatic agents, therefore with potential of being externally used as rapidly-acting hemostatic agent to a universally lethal injury of the vascular system. Calcium ion exchange derivates (Nano-LTA/Ca) were more efficient in comparison with the other nanometric zeolites such as Gismondine (GIS), Mordenite (MOR), zeolite A (LTA), Beta zeolite (BEA), Titanium-Silicate (TS-1)), Faujasite (FAU).