USTC First Affiliated Hospital Announces $547K Licensing Deal for Hemostatic Hydrogel Microneedle Dressing Technology

Jan 24, 2026 07:59 CST Updated 08:00

Recently, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital) released a public notice on the transformation of patent achievements: it plans to collaborate withShanghai Pengshuo Machinery Co., Ltd.Co-developedMicroneedle DressingThe relevant patents were transferred to the industry partner through agreement-based pricing, with a transaction amount ofRMB 3.974 million, including patent licensing feesRMB 650,000, Technical Collaboration and Development CostsRMB 3.324 million。

This technology focuses on the field of medical hemostasis and wound management, utilizing innovative processes to prepareHydrogel Microneedle Dressing/Patch, effectively addressing the challenges of traditional hemostatic methods, such as susceptibility to adhesion, limited applicability, and low hemostatic efficiency. It can be widely applied in scenarios including surgical procedures, chronic wound care, and emergency first aid. Its translation into clinical practice will provide more efficient and safe wound management solutions for clinical settings. The inventor of this technology isYao Xiuying and Her Team。

Yao Xiuying:She currently serves as the Head Nurse of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the South Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital), as well as the Head Nurse of the Thoracic Surgery Ward specializing in esophageal diseases. She also assumes the role of “Innovation Executive” for medical innovation at the hospital, with a long-term focus on critical care nursing, clinical medical innovation, and technology translation. With 19 years of clinical experience in the ICU, she leverages her extensive frontline nursing practice to drive technological innovations addressing critical clinical pain points. As a core inventor, she has led or participated in the development of numerous medical innovation achievements, including the microneedle dressing series patents currently being translated into practice. Her work spans multiple areas, such as wound management, medical device improvement, and nursing instrument optimization, and has received approval for“A Patient Fluid Intake and Output Monitoring System” “A Ventilator Exhaust Gas Sterilization Device” “An Anal Pouch Designed for Female Incontinent Patients”among other utility model patents. Among these, she spearheaded the commercialization of"Disposable Fecal Drainage Catheter"It became the first innovative product at the hospital to obtain a Class II medical device registration certificate and successfully launch on the market, filling a gap in clinical nursing devices. Furthermore, she has been deeply involved in clinical research on multi-organ protection in sepsis, with related findings published in core journals both domestically and internationally. She also serves on multiple academic committees, promoting the practical application of innovative technologies in critical care nursing, surgical assistance, and other fields.

Clinical Hemostasis and Wound Care Face Multiple Dilemmas: Shortcomings of Traditional Solutions Constrain Diagnostic and Treatment Efficiency

In core clinical scenarios such as medical emergency care, surgical procedures, and chronic wound management,Hemostasis and Wound HealingIt has always been a critical link concerning patient safety and the quality of recovery, with underlying pathological mechanisms that are intricate and closely interconnected.

From a physiological perspective, following trauma, the body must rapidly initiate a cascade involving platelet aggregation and coagulation factor activation to form stable blood clots, thereby halting hemorrhage. In contrast, chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers present challenges beyond basic hemostasis, including persistent exudate accumulation, excessive release of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), bacterial proliferation, and impaired drug penetration due to the barrier function of the stratum corneum. Dysregulation at any stage may prolong the healing process, lead to hypertrophic scarring, or even exacerbate infection.

Particularly in scenarios such as surgical incision wounds, arterial bleeding, or battlefield first aid, whether it is possible to"Golden Hemostasis Time"(Rapid control of bleeding within 3–5 minutes post-trauma) directly determines the patient’s risk of shock and prognostic outcomes. In contrast, patients with chronic wounds face long-term challenges in managing exudate; the pain and economic burden associated with frequent dressing changes further exacerbate the difficulties in diagnosis and treatment.

Currently, the clinically commonHemostasis and Wound Care ProtocolMainly covering hemostatic gauze, tourniquets, physical compression, topically applied hemostatic agents, and traditional hydrogel dressings.However, these care protocols all have certain limitations: hemostatic gauze absorbs blood at a relatively slow rate, making it difficult to manage rapid and massive hemorrhage, and it tends to adhere to the wound surface, easily causing re-bleeding during dressing changes; tourniquets are only suitable for temporary hemostasis in the extremities and cannot cover critical areas such as the trunk and internal organs, while prolonged use may lead to limb ischemia and nerve damage; physical pressure is effective only for superficial minor wounds, whereas for deep trauma or arterial bleeding, sustained pressure is required, which not only relies on manual effort but is also prone to failure due to improper operation; topically applied medications are easily washed away by bleeding or exudate and struggle to penetrate the stratum corneum to act on deep wound beds; traditional hydrogel dressings offer limited functionality, lack transdermal penetration capability, and have insufficient mechanical strength, failing to meet the collaborative care needs of deep drug delivery and combined "hemostasis, anti-inflammation, and wound healing." Meanwhile, in clinical practice with these approaches, hemostasis and wound care still face severe challenges:

First,The Contradiction Between Hemostatic Efficiency and Safety Is Difficult to ReconcileFor acute conditions such as extensive trauma and arterial hemorrhage, rapid hemostasis is critical to saving lives; however, existing hemostatic methods often struggle to balance efficiency with safety. Meanwhile, chronic wounds present a synergistic need for “hemostasis, anti-inflammation, and healing promotion,” rendering single-function care products inadequate for comprehensive management.

Second,There is a high risk of wound adhesion and secondary injury.During the wound healing process, the adhesion of exudate to dressings is a common issue. This not only causes severe pain for patients during dressing changes but may also tear newly formed tissue, prolong the healing period, and even lead to infection.

Third,The limitations of applicable scenarios are quite evident.Wounds at different anatomical sites and of varying types (such as deep truncal trauma, extremity arterial hemorrhage, and chronic ulcers) exhibit vastly different hemostatic care requirements. Existing products struggle to provide comprehensive coverage across all clinical scenarios, particularly lacking precise and effective interventions for deep-seated injuries in non-extremity regions such as the trunk and visceral organs.

Fourth,Drug delivery efficiency is low.The stratum corneum of the skin serves as a natural barrier, which hinders the penetration of topically applied hemostatic and anti-inflammatory drugs into deeper wound tissues. Furthermore, these medications are prone to being washed away by exudate, failing to maintain effective concentrations and thereby significantly reducing therapeutic efficacy.

Due to the compounding effect of these limitations, there has consistently been a lack of a"Rapid Hemostasis, Safe and Non-Adhesive, Versatile Application, Synergistic Healing Promotion"comprehensive solutions, there is an urgent need for innovative technologies to achieve breakthroughs.

Novel Minimally Invasive Hemostasis Strategy: Hydrogel Microneedles Enable Integrated Rapid Coagulation and Wound Repair

The microneedle dressing developed by the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China focuses on the fields of medical hemostasis and wound care, with its core lying in the development ofChitosan, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Polyvinylpyrrolidoneas the core ingredientHydrogel Microneedle Series Products. Through synergistic innovations in materials, structure, manufacturing processes, and functional mechanisms, it addresses the limitations of traditional hemostasis and wound care technologies, establishing a solution that combines practicality with industrial viability.

Application of This TechnologyChitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polyvinylpyrrolidone Ternary Composite SystemFunctional complementarity is achieved through a weight ratio of (1–8):(1–8):(1–10). Specifically, chitosan provides biocompatibility and basic hemostatic properties, polyvinyl alcohol enhances the mechanical strength of the material, and polyvinylpyrrolidone regulates the swelling rate and exudate absorption capacity. A preferred ratio of 3:4:3 further optimizes the overall performance.

Secondly, the structural design of microneedles is unique, adopting“Frustum Base + Cylindrical Shaft + Conical Tip” Composite Configuration, and paired with precisely controllable dimensional parameters, it ensures the efficacy of puncture while minimizing tissue trauma and increasing drug loading capacity per unit volume.

Furthermore, innovative approaches were adopted in the preparation process“Repeated Vacuum Injection Molding” Technology, in conjunction with the PDMS negative mold fabrication process, it eliminates the need for complex crosslinking agents. The material can be formed by gelation at room temperature (8–14 h) followed by moderate-temperature drying (25–40°C, 40–50 h), which effectively reduces residual air bubbles and enhances product consistency, thereby laying the foundation for large-scale production.

Finally, in terms of functional mechanismsEstablished a Dual Hemostatic System of "Coagulation Factor Activation + Red Blood Cell Charge Adsorption". After microneedles penetrate the skin, they activate coagulation factors and promote platelet aggregation; the positive charges of swollen chitosan bind to the negative charges on red blood cells, thereby accelerating clot formation. Meanwhile, this technology integrates multiple functions—including transdermal delivery, exudate absorption, and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects—to achieve comprehensive wound management throughout the entire healing process.

Meanwhile, the hemostatic efficacy of this technologyExperimentally verifiedIn vitro tests demonstrated an average hemostasis time of 93 ± 5 seconds, with the coagulation index continuously decreasing over time. The hemostatic efficiency was significantly superior to that of traditional gauze and plain PVA+PVP microneedles. Furthermore, the microneedles can penetrate the stratum corneum (to a depth of 80–400 μm) to reach deep wound sites, thereby preventing the loss of hemostatic agents due to washout by exudate, making them suitable for various bleeding scenarios.

Secondly,Its mechanical properties are stable and reliable.. The single-needle puncture force is ≥0.098 N, and the compressive strength of 500-μm-high microneedles reaches 900 mN, which is higher than that of conical (700 mN) and rivet-type (650 mN) microneedles of the same height. After swelling (swelling ratio: 280%–353%), the microneedles maintain structural integrity without collapse or fracture.

Third,Biosafety Complies with Industry StandardsThe material is biodegradable, with a degradation rate of >80% at 28 days, cell viability of >90%, hemolysis rate of <5%, and no significant cytotoxicity. It does not adhere to the wound, preventing damage to newly formed tissue during dressing changes. Furthermore, it exhibits an inhibition zone diameter of ≥8 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, with an antibacterial rate of >85%, and reduces the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 (by 60%) and TNF-α (by 55%). In addition, the microneedles reach swelling equilibrium within 60 seconds, enabling efficient absorption of wound exudate and maintaining a moist healing environment.

This technology has a wide range of application scenarios, covering emergency medical care, surgical hemostasis, postoperative wound management, chronic wound care (such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure injuries), and hemostasis in minimally invasive surgeries. Its patch-based design is portable and easy to use. Clinical cases have demonstrated that this technology enables earlier removal of postoperative compression devices, thereby improving nursing efficiency.

Furthermore, the fabrication process of this technology features concise steps, easily controllable parameters, reusable molds, and readily available raw materials, demonstrating both commercialization potential and industrial feasibility.

Dual Breakthroughs in Hemostasis and Wound Protection: Accelerated Market Launch and Research Translation of Microneedle-Based Medical Products

Traditional hemostasis and wound care often face challenges such as suboptimal hemostatic efficiency, wound adhesion, and difficulties in healing chronic wounds. Leveraging its characteristics of minimal invasiveness, precise delivery, and multifunctional integration, microneedle technology is gradually emerging as an innovative solution in this field. Currently, several microneedle-based products focused on medical hemostasis and wound care have been approved for market launch. Meanwhile, a number of research and development projects aimed at addressing specific clinical challenges are progressing steadily, offering more efficient and safe new solutions for wound treatment.

Shaanxi BioRegen Medical's "Baisuhe Absorbable Composite Hemostatic Membrane":Employing a dual-component polysaccharide material composed of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl chitosan, a bilayer porous structure is constructed using MCIC multi-component ionic-covalent co-crosslinking technology. The loose layer rapidly absorbs water from the blood to form a gel and concentrate the blood, while the dense layer minimizes blood exudation, reduces the risk of adhesion, and aggregates red blood cells and platelets, thereby achieving dual-effect hemostasis. The advantages of this product include biodegradability and non-immunogenicity.

Hunan Yujin Medical's Chitosan Rapid Hemostasis Series Products:Using chitosan as the core raw material, a series of products such as wound hemostatic dressings and arterial compression hemostasis devices have been developed. These products do not rely on conventional coagulation mechanisms and do not affect platelet function. By leveraging electrostatic interactions between positive and negative charges, they aggregate red blood cells and platelets to form blood clots. Currently, these products have been implemented in clinical practice. Through industry-academia-research collaboration, their safety and practicality have been optimized, making them suitable for emergency hemostasis scenarios.

Medtronic Veriset™ Hemostatic Patch:By inducing erythrocyte deformation and capturing platelets through oxidized regenerated cellulose, the coagulation response is accelerated; a hydrogel formed by combining trilysine with polyethylene glycol achieves the dual effects of tissue adhesion and wound sealing. This patch becomes effective after 30 seconds of pressure application, offering a hemostatic speed that is 66% faster than traditional fibrin patches. It achieves stable hemostasis within one minute, is fully absorbed within 28 days, possesses bactericidal properties, and remains effective even in patients with impaired coagulation function.

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University’s “Missile-Biomimetic Double-Layer Microneedle System”:Utilizing a bilayer microneedle design, the upper layer is loaded with dextran-modified silver nanoparticles (capable of penetrating bacterial biofilms to achieve precise bactericidal effects), while the lower layer carries heparin-sulfated PLGA microspheres containing taurine (able to scavenge reactive oxygen species and regulate macrophage polarization). This system is designed for the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds, addressing the vicious cycle of “infection–inflammation–oxidative stress.” Animal studies have confirmed that the product simultaneously achieves debridement, anti-inflammatory, and pro-healing effects. The related findings were published in *Bioactive Materials* (Impact Factor IF = 20.3), and the product has currently entered the pre-clinical translation preparation stage.

Trauma Hemostasis Microneedle Patch Developed by Pennsylvania State University,Suitable for emergency hemostasis in trauma (applicable to scenarios involving sudden bleeding, such as on the battlefield or due to occupational injuries). This patch incorporates a biocompatible, degradable microneedle array that accelerates coagulation by increasing the blood contact area, while enhancing patch adhesion through mechanical interlocking to promote wound closure. In vitro experiments demonstrated that it reduces clotting time from 11.5 minutes to 1.3 minutes; in a rat liver hemorrhage model, it reduced bleeding by more than 90%. Currently, the patch is in the preclinical optimization phase.

Xiamen Medical College Smart Double-Layer Microneedle Patch:Suitable for the treatment of hypertrophic scars (including surgical scar and burn scar care), this product utilizes a hyaluronic acid + PVP composite carrier with a dual-layer timed drug release design. Tests on the New Zealand rabbit ear model have shown that, after the product takes effect, scar thickness can be reduced by more than 40%. Human clinical trials are planned to commence in 2026.

From the clinical implementation of dual-effect hemostatic membranes to scientific breakthroughs achieved with smart-responsive microneedles, microneedle technology is robustly driving the evolution of medical hemostasis and wound care from “single-function” approaches toward “precision-oriented, integrated” solutions. These products and initiatives not only successfully address the limitations of traditional care methods—such as adhesion, inefficiency, and narrow applicability—but also demonstrate unique value in the treatment of refractory wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers and hypertrophic scars.

As technology continues to iterate and clinical translation deepens, microneedle-based medical products are poised for broader adoption in scenarios such as emergency care, surgical procedures, and chronic wound management. This will not only deliver a superior treatment experience for patients but also unlock new avenues for development in the field of medical wound care.