South Korean scientists develop spray-on powder that seals wounds in about one second
Researchers at KAIST have developed AGCL powder, which forms a strong gel over a wound in about one second when it meets calcium in blood. It is built for deep, irregular injuries where standard gauze and clotting agents often struggle, and it stayed effective after long storage. In animal tests it reduced bleeding time compared with conventional hemostatic agents.
Scientists at KAIST in South Korea have built a powder, called AGCL powder, that stops life-threatening bleeding in about one second. It combines three naturally derived materials: alginate and gellan gum, which react with calcium to gel almost instantly, and chitosan, which bonds with blood components to help sealing. When the powder meets blood it turns into a strong hydrogel within roughly one second and can absorb more than seven times its own weight in blood while staying stable. It is designed for deep and irregular wounds where standard gauze and clotting agents often fail. In preclinical animal tests, including severe internal injuries such as liver wounds, it reduced bleeding time compared with conventional hemostatic agents, and it stayed effective after long storage in harsh conditions. Uncontrolled bleeding remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in trauma and on the battlefield. The research was published in Advanced Functional Materials. It has not yet been tested in humans.