Hemostatic nanotechnologies for external and internal hemorrhage management

An uncontrolled hemorrhage can easily lead to death during surgery or military operations. Despite the significant advances in hemostatic research, there is still an urgent and increasing need for safer and more effective hemostatic materials. Recently, hemostatic nanomaterial research has been receiving increasing interest owing to the unique advantages offered by such nanomaterials. This review summarizes the fundamentals of hemostasis and emphasizes the recent developments regarding hemorrhage-related hemostatic nanomaterials. In terms of external accessible hemorrhage management, natural and synthetic polymers and inorganic components that have been used in traditional hemostats provide novel nanoscale solutions. Regarding internal noncompressible hemorrhage management, current research endeavors are dedicated to the development of substitutes for blood components, and nanoformulated hemostatic drugs. This review also briefly discusses the main and persistent problems of hemostatic nanomaterials, including safety concerns and clinical translation challenges. This review is hoped to provide critical insight for hemostatic nanomaterial development.