Injectable Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Ionic Gel With Rapid Gelation and Broad Hemostatic Functionality.

Abstract

Rapid and effective bleeding control is critical in emergency care and surgical procedures. This study presents a water-free ionic gel based on a deep eutectic solvent (DES), formulated from choline chloride and ethylene glycol, combined with poly(acrylic acid) and viscosity-modulating additives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) or collagen (COL). The resulting DES ionic gel exhibits fast in situ gelation within 10 s, high viscosity suitable for injection, and robust tissue adhesion. Mechanical evaluations confirmed adequate stretchability, compressive strength, and toughness. Among all tested formulations, the DES-2% HEC formulation demonstrated optimal performance across swelling, optical clarity (> 90%), and environmental stability (T_10%: 131 °C). Antibacterial assays revealed strong bactericidal activity against E. coli and S. aureus, while cytocompatibility tests showed excellent viability and proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Hemostatic assessments confirmed reduced clotting time, enhanced red blood cell attachment, and activation of coagulation factor XII. In vivo experiments using rat tail amputation and liver puncture models demonstrated that treatment with DES-2% HEC reduced blood loss and coagulation time by ≈60%-70% compared to the untreated control group, while maintaining excellent biocompatibility. These results highlight the DES ionic gel as a promising multifunctional platform for advanced hemostatic applications.