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 BLOOD LOSS PREVENTION WITH NEW SPRAY POWDER




Imagine a powder that can halt severe bleeding almost instantly — within a single second. That's exactly what researchers at KAIST have developed. This breakthrough spray-on powder forms a strong, protective gel the moment it touches a wound, sealing it fast enough to save lives. It's designed to tackle deep, irregular injuries where traditional methods often fall short — and it stays effective even after years sitting on the shelf in tough conditions. Originally crafted for soldiers on the battlefield, this tech could soon change the way emergencies are handled everywhere—from disaster zones to ambulances and hospitals.

A Game-Changer for Bleeding Control

Uncontrolled bleeding is the top killer in combat injuries, making quick intervention crucial. That's why a team at KAIST, including an Army Major, put their heads together to create a next-level powder that stops heavy bleeding in about one second. This isn't just a win for soldiers—it could revolutionize emergency care for everyone.

Led by Professors Steve Park and Sangyong Jon, the team engineered a powder that quickly forms a tough hydrogel barrier when sprayed onto a wound. Thanks to input from an Army Major who knows battlefield realities firsthand, the powder hardens instantly, holds up after long storage, and can be deployed fast, even in the most demanding conditions.

Made for the Messiest Wounds

Traditional patch-style products struggle with deep or oddly shaped wounds—they justcan'tt cover the tricky spots. Plus, they're sensitive to temperature and humidity, which makes them tough to store and use in the field.

This new powder changes the game. It molds itself to fit wounds of all shapes and sizes, from deep gashes to uneven injuries, making it way more versatile than patches. Instead of just soaking up blood and blocking it physically, as most powders do, this one uses a clever chemical trick—reacting naturally with blood ions to gel instantly.

How AGCL Powder Works Its Magic

The star ingredient here is AGCL powder, a blend of natural, body-friendly materials such as Alginate, Gellan Gum, and Chitosan. When it comes into contact with blood, it reacts with calcium and other ions, forming a solid gel in about one second and sealing the wound tightly.

Its 3D structure sucks up more than 7 times its own weight in blood, quickly stopping even heavy, high-pressure bleeding. Tests showed it sticks better than commercial products—strong enough to hold firm even under hand pressure.

Safe and Healing-Friendly

Made from natural materials, the powder is gentle on the body. Lab tests showed it's safe for blood cells, highly viable in surrounding tissue, and kills 99.9% of bacteria on contact.

Animal studies revealed it speeds up healing and helps rebuild blood vessels and collagen. In liver injury tests, it cut down blood loss and clotting time compared to existing products. Plus, liver function bounced back to normal within two weeks, with no signs of toxicity.

Durability is another win. The powder retained its effectiveness after two years of storage at room temperature and in humid conditions—perfect for military and disaster use.

More Than Just Battlefield Tech

While designed for defense, this powder's potential goes far beyond the military. It could become a lifeline in disaster response, healthcare in remote areas, and places where medical resources are scarce.

This project is a prime example of defense research making a real-world impact beyond the battlefield—kind of like how GPS and microwave ovens started as military tech but now serve everyday life.

The innovation earned top honors, including the 2025 KAIST Q-DayPresident'ss Award and the 2024 Minister of National Defense Award.

Ph.D. candidate and Army Major Kyusoon Park, who helped lead the project, summed it up:" Modernwarfare'ss real goal is to save lives. I started this research hoping to save just one more soldier. Now, I want this technology to protect lives everywhere—on the battlefield and in hospitals alike."

The study was published online on October 28, 2025, in Advanced Functional Materials, a leading journal in chemistry and materials science, with support fromKorea'ss National Research Foundation.

This breakthrough powder isn't just science fiction; it's a real, ready-to-use tool that could save thousands of lives in the blink of an eye.

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