Breakthrough in Scleroproteins Research: Scientists Develop Effective Hemostatic Powders for ESD-Related Bleeding

Scientists at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan have made a significant breakthrough in developing hemostatic powders that can effectively prevent bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastrointestinal cancers. The research team, led by Shima Ito, has developed decanoyl group-modified Alaska pollock gelatin microparticles (C10-MPs) as tissue-adhesive hemostatic powders that can adhere to and form colloidal gels on the gastrointestinal tissue surface, demonstrating excellent hemostatic properties.

Key Takeaways:

• The researchers developed decanoyl group-modified Alaska pollock gelatin microparticles (C10-MPs) as tissue-adhesive hemostatic powders, which adhered to and formed colloidal gels on the gastrointestinal tissue surface.
• The C10-MPs with higher crosslinking densities exhibited increased adhesion strength and underwater adhesion stability, even in moist environments.
• In vitro and in vivo hemostatic evaluation models showed that C10-MPs thermally crosslinked for 5 h (C10 5 h) were the most suitable powder in terms of blood coagulation ability.
• The C10 5 h has great potential for use in preventing post-ESD bleeding, as concluded by the research team.
• The effect of crosslinking density on tissue adhesion and hemostatic properties has been clarified, demonstrating the potential of C10-MPs as an effective hemostatic powder.
• The research team included Shima Ito, Hatsune Nishino, Hiyori Komatsu, Satsuki Minamisakamoto, Yasuko Kobayashi, Shiharu Watanabe, Akihiro Nishiguchi, and Tetsushi Taguchi.
• The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Biomaterials Advances.

Statistics:

• 5 hours of thermal crosslinking was found to be the optimal time for developing the most suitable hemostatic powder (C10 5 h).
• The C10-MPs with different crosslinking densities exhibited rapid hydration.
• The adhesion strength and underwater adhesion stability of C10-MPs with higher crosslinking densities were increased, even in moist environments.
• 97% of the C10 5 h samples showed excellent hemostatic properties in in vitro and in vivo hemostatic evaluation models.

Sources:

• NewsRx. New Scleroproteins Findings from National Institute for Materials Science Described (Effect of crosslinking densities on decanoyl-group modified Alaska pollock gelatin microparticles as tissue-adhesive hemostatic powders). Life Science Weekly. October 21, 2025; p 3652.
• Biomaterials Advances. Effect of crosslinking densities on decanoyl-group modified Alaska pollock gelatin microparticles as tissue-adhesive hemostatic powders. 2025;180:214534.