Nanocomposite Hydrogel with Tantalum Microparticles for Rapid Endovascular Hemostasis

• Published in: Advanced science Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 2003327 - n/a
• Main Authors: Albadawi, Hassan, Altun, Izzet, Hu, Jingjie, Zhang, Zefu, Panda, Anshuman, Kim, Han‐Jun, Khademhosseini, Ali, Oklu, Rahmi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2021; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Aneurysms; angiography; catheter; Catheters; Embolization; Hemorrhage; Hydrogels; intervention; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical equipment; Mortality; Nanocomposites; Patients; Physical properties; Solids; Trauma; Tumors; Veins & arteries; Visualization; United States > US; catheter; embolization; intervention; angiography; hemorrhage
• ISSN: 2198-3844; 2198-3844
• DOI: 10.1002/advs.202003327

Endovascular embolization to treat vascular hemorrhage involves pushing coil‐shaped metal wires into the artery repeatedly until they are densely packed to slow the blood flow and clot. However, coil embolization is associated with high rebleeding rates, unpredictable economics and, most importantly, they rely on the patient's ability to make a clot. These issues are exacerbated when the patient is anticoagulated or coagulopathic. A novel bioengineered tantalum‐loaded nanocomposite hydrogel for gel embolic material (Ta‐GEM) that can be rapidly delivered using clinical catheters for instant hemostasis regardless of the coagulopathic state is reported. Ta‐GEM formulation is visible by most of the clinically available imaging modalities including ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and fluoroscopy without significant artifact. In addition, Ta‐GEM can be retrieved, allowing temporary vascular occlusion, and it can be used to rescue cases of failed coil embolization. Ta‐GEM occlusion of first‐order arteries such as the renal artery and iliac artery in a swine model is found to be safe and durable; by 28 days, 75% of the injected Ta‐GEM in the arterial lumen is replaced by dense connective tissue. Altogether, this study demonstrates that Ta‐GEM has many advantages over the current technologies and has potential applications in clinical practice. Endovascular embolization is performed to treat various vascular diseases including hemorrhage, aneurysms, and vascular malformations. A tantalum microparticle‐loaded shear‐thinning gel embolic material (Ta‐GEM) that can be rapidly delivered into diseased arteries using clinical catheters to achieve rapid hemostasis is reported. In large animal models, Ta‐GEM leads to a durable occlusion without recanalization and outperforms coils and gelfoam under coagulopathic conditions.